White Crust in Ear Canal from Dried Ear Drops?

I had an ear canal and middle ear infection in January. After the Amoxicillin and Cetraxal (Cipfofloxacin) ear drops, the symptoms started to fade.

But two weeks ago those symptoms started to creep back in. My ear feels slightly clogged and sharp/dull pains come in waves. There seems to be no infection in the middle ear, no redness, nor fluid.

However, there is white crust in my ear canal. Could that be from the previous ear drops that have dried or something else? I was today prescribed ear drops with alcohol and boron acid for ear canal infection. They also took bacterial culture sample to investigate what might be causing it. I noticed one new tone in the ear a few weeks ago.

I am already catastrophizing in my mind...

I think sleeping with earplugs caused the infection so I stopped wearing earplugs while sleeping.

Comments are welcome! Have any of you got experience with ear canal infection or white crust in ear canal?