Earwax Facts
- Earwax is a natural substance produced by glands in the skin of the outer ear canal.
- The wax acts as a helpful coating for the ear canal so removal of it is not necessary. However, in cases of blockage or excessive buildup, it may be necessary to try to remove the excessive wax.
- Excessive wax buildup can be caused by putting small things in your ears like a hearing aid, hairpins, headphones, Q-tips, etc. Putting these things in your ear pushes the wax further down the canal. Never stick anything in your ear, including cotton swabs.
- Signs and symptoms of wax buildup include:
- Pain
- Irritation
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Loss of hearing
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears(tinnitus)
-
Reflex cough
What causes wax in the ears to build up?
- Narrowing of the canal resulting from infections or diseases of the skin, bones, or connective tissue
- Production of a less fluid form of cerumen (more common in older persons due to aging of the glands that produce it).
- Overproduction of cerumen in response to trauma or blockage within the canal.
- Things that you put in your ears to clean them like swabs, Q-tips, hair pins or keys.
- Hearing aids
-
Earphones that are placed inside the ears
What are the treatment guidelines for impacted earwax removal?
- Observation, since many impactions or blockages may clear on their own
- Softening agents, known as cerumenolytics. These are oils or ear drops that soften or break up the wax to help in removal.
- Irrigation, or ear syringing. This is clearing the wax using a stream of warm water into the ear canal. This method is not suitable for people who have frequent ear infections or who have a perforated eardrum or surgically inserted ear tubes.
- Physical removal using a suction device or instrument. This should always be done by a doctor or other health-care professional.
Read Complete Article at Ear Wax
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