Something I have dealt with in my life over the last 6 years or so is exzema in my ear CANALS. This is a nasty form of exzcema. It itches like nothing I can explain and it gets this build-up of skin that then cracks and then oozes. It is embarrassing to have people react to it (to the point I decided to grow out my hair to cover it!)
I had a bought of this about 13 years ago and I had a really-on-top-of-it doctor in the Northwest who diagnosed it right off-the-bat and gave me some drops that cleared it right up. I didn't have a problem again until about 6 years ago. I recognized it and went to the doctor here (2000 miles from the first doctor) I told them of my bought 7 years prior, but the doctor wanted to treat it like a fungus. It didn't do a thing for the exzema. So I started my journey for the next 4 years of going from doctor to doctor who was stumped by my ears (can't take MY word for it that it is exzema). I finally just paid the money and went to a dermatologist. (I really don't know why it took me so long to go, I think just plain frustration...) He came in looked at it and said it was exzema....THANK YOU LORD! Well he gave me some topical steroid cream. I have been using it for the last 3 years. It clears up the exzema as long as I do it every day. BLAH...

Well now onto the carbonated beverages. Last fall my husband and brother-in-law (who lives with us) were both diagnosed with high blood pressure and my brother-in-law was diagnosed with diabetes. My bil LOVES Pepsi, and has been drinking it for years as his main beverage. He has a really hard time not drinking it if it is in the house. So with this in mind I stopped drinking all carbonated beverages (diet is really high in sodium). I really must admit, I don't even miss it. I think I drank it because it was available. I much prefer a cup of coffee or tea or even water.
About a month ago I noticed that my ears were not as bad as they had been. I had stopped using the steroid cream, except on a few occasions, which I have switched to just some cortisone with aloe. So I started to think what I had changed. SODA!
Coincidence??? I don't know, but I know that soda has no nutritional value whatsoever, in fact it is really bad for you. It will dehydrate you, it will over time turn your teeth to chalk. Now I believe for me it has caused some type of reaction that just so happens to be in my ears.

I do know it isn't worth finding out by drinking it again. I am done with it.