Earwax, also known as cerumen, plays a crucial role in removing dead skin cells, dirt, hair, and debris from the ear canal. It helps prevent infections and discomfort while reducing irritation caused by water entering the ear. However, if the body produces too much earwax, it can lead to a blockage in the ear canal.
Common causes of earwax blockage include improper ear cleaning with cotton swabs or the use of hearing aids. When earwax builds up, it can result in a condition known as “cerumen impaction.” Fortunately, this can often be treated at home using easily accessible household products.
If you’re dealing with bothersome earwax, it’s essential to handle it carefully.Sometimes attempting to clean your ears can create more problems. Ears are naturally self-cleaning, and when the outer layer of skin in the ear canal sheds, the wax usually falls out with it.
If you’re looking for easy ways to clean your ears, following methods:
Over-the-Counter Ear Cleaning Drops
If you have a small amount of wax, over-the-counter ear cleaning drops are effective. Look for drops containing hydrogen peroxide or other peroxide types, as peroxide helps break up earwax.
- How to Use Ear Cleaning Drops:
- Lie sideways: Ensure the ear you’re cleaning faces up and add the drops as directed.
- Let it sit: Allow the cleaning solution to stay in your ear for approximately five minutes to soften the wax.
- Use a tissue: When you sit up, the liquid should come out, along with the loosened earwax. Keep a tissue handy to catch it.
A bulb syringe
If ear cleaning drops don’t do the trick, you might need to flush your ears with a bulb syringe, which you can find at drug or grocery stores. Here’s how to do it: fill the syringe with warm water, position it near your ear opening, and gently squeeze the bulb. The warm water will enter your ear, helping to break up the wax. To let the water, and ideally the wax, flow out, turn your head to the side over a sink or bathtub.
However, keep these points in mind:
- Gentle Approach:
- Be gentle: When flushing your ear, take it easy to avoid harming your eardrum.
- Temperature Check:
- Watch the temperature: Ensure the water is not too cold or too hot, as extreme temperatures may cause dizziness.
- Cautionary Considerations:
- Avoid if necessary: Don’t use the flushing method if you have a hole in your eardrum or have undergone eardrum surgery. Flushing could potentially damage your eardrum repair.
Mineral or olive oil
Another method involves using mineral or olive oil. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people who apply olive oil before a cleaning find it easier to remove wax. This may be because the oil lubricates the ear canal. However, he notes that mineral oil is typically recommended.
When it comes to earwax removal, there are methods to avoid. Like using cotton swabs. The warning on the swab package says it all: Do not insert swab into the ear canal. Cotton swab can act like a ramrod, pushing earwax deeper into the ear canal. This can lead to increased earwax buildup and the risk of rupturing the eardrum or causing infection if the ear canal is scratched.
Earwax removal candles
Earwax removal candles are not recommended, these candles not only don’t work but also pose a risk of causing burns.
Knowing when and why you should clean out earwax is crucial. While earwax is generally more of a nuisance than a serious issue, there are situations where seeking medical attention is wise.
Someone should examine your ear to determine if the ear canal is open or if wax is causing a blockage. Symptoms of a clogged ear may include pain, muffled hearing, a sensation of something blocking the ear, dizziness, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
If the situation is minor, you might be able to unblock your ears at home. However, if that’s not successful, a doctor can use operating microscopes to magnify the inside of the ear canal, loosen the wax, and vacuum it out.
It’s important to note that a clogged ear can have various causes, such as a middle ear infection with fluid behind the eardrum or a viral infection affecting the inner ear. In these cases, a doctor can diagnose and treat the issue to prevent permanent hearing loss.
Maintaining balance is key, as excessive earwax can lead to temporary hearing loss or infections. Some people may need cleaning if they produce an excessive amount of wax that blocks the ear, particularly if they have a smaller-than-average ear canal.
