Curious about ear wax facts? When it comes to your health, no fact is too obscure. Excessive ear wax buildup can cause infections and hearing loss, so many people take steps to remove the wax buildup before it causes blockages in the ear canal. Unfortunately, the most common approach to ear cleaning – cotton swabs – can push ear wax further into the ear canal, increasing the risk of blockages. So let’s get into some ear wax facts: how should you remove ear wax? And what causes ear wax in the first place?
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Ear wax is a natural substance and plays a vital role in keeping the ear canal clean. Glands in the ear canal produce cerumen, a waxy oil that forms ear wax.
One of the most interesting ear wax facts has to do with our ears being self-cleaning. As ear wax drains through the ear canal, it lubricates the dry canal while also trapping things like dirt, hair, dust, and foreign particles inside the ear. The wax and debris inside eventually reach the outer ear where they can be washed away. Ear wax also traps bacteria and microorganisms, maintaining a healthy ear and protecting it from infection.
If excess ear wax accumulates, it can block the canal, resulting in temporary hearing loss, infections, and other symptoms.
Impacted ear wax has multiple causes. Sometimes the ear canal glands produce too much oil, which hardens and blocks the ear.
Inserting cotton swabs or other objects into the ears can push ear wax deeper into the canal and cause a blockage. Frequent use of earphones, swimming plugs, work-required earplugs, and hearing aids also increases the risk of impacted ear wax.
Other causes of ear wax blockages include:
One of the more interesting ear wax facts is that ear wax come in a variety of colors. Brown ear wax may look alarming, but it’s perfectly normal. Ear wax secretions can vary in color from person to person. The presence of brown (or even black or red) ear wax does not mean you have a blockage or infection. The variation in color is caused by a combination of oxidation and a person’s body chemistry.
Blocked wax in ear canals can cause a number of symptoms. Hearing loss is one of the most common – so common that impacted ear wax is a leading cause of temporary conductive hearing loss in older adults. Other symptoms include tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears), earaches, and a feeling of “fullness” in the ear.
Impacted ear wax can lead to ear infections as the wax traps bacteria in the ear. Infections caused by ear wax blockages can produce symptoms such as:
Hearing loss, fevers, earaches, and dizziness have multiple causes. If you experience any such symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of blockage, you should have ear wax removed. The best way to clear impacted ear wax is to seek help from your doctor, but there are over-the-counter remedies you can use.
If the affected person is a child, do not try to remove wax from their ears yourself. Doing so can damage the child's developing ears and potentially cause hearing loss. Instead, let a doctor or licensed hearing care professional treat a child’s ears.
Want tips to protect your ears? The safest way to clear ear wax blockages is to let your doctor handle the issue. Medical professionals can remove impacted wax without damaging the ear. During treatment, the doctor may irrigate the ear, use suction to remove excess wax, or scoop out the wax using a small curved instrument called a curette.
While it’s not recommended, if you do choose to remove your ear wax at home, do not insert any object into your ear, (including cotton swabs). Swabs should only be used to clean the outer ear. You may be able to soften ear wax with a few drops of the following:
Once softened, ear wax may drain out of the ear canal by itself. You can also use over-the-counter products to irrigate the ear. If you choose to do so, follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
Do not use irrigation kits if you have an ear injury or have had any medical procedures within the ear because doing so could cause a perforated eardrum. It’s also important to only use irrigation kits designed for ears. Irrigation products for the mouth or teeth can damage the ear.
Most people should only need to remove wax in ear canals at their annual doctor’s appointment, which is more efficient and safer than home treatment. People with chronic ear wax issues may need to see their doctor every six months for a cleaning.
If you suspect wax in ear canals is causing hearing difficulties or other symptoms, consult a medical doctor or contact a licensed hearing care professional for a hearing health consultation.
