Should I remove earwax?
by Admin
Posted on 08-07-2022 10:00 AM
How to protect your ears
Ear wax removal
15% of us have too much
ear
wax, seriously affecting
quality of life
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ear wax occurs naturally in the human body – it is produced by the specialised cerumen glands to protect our ears from foreign bodies and microbial organisms, to remove dead skin cells and other debris, and to maintain normal ph levels. Ear wax builds up in the end in everyone’s ears, and some of us produce more ear wax than others.
If your ears feel blocked, or you are experiencing what can only be described as a sudden hearing loss, or if sounds are suddenly muffled – like you are living in cotton wool – then you probably have too much ear wax stuck in your ear.
Wax is normal – it provides protection for your ears. Your ears are self-cleaning, wax usually falls out on its own. If you know you have an ear wax problem causing deafness and that your ear is otherwise healthy you can start ear drops yourself. Place 1-2 drops of olive oil (it is advisable to buy a bottle of olive oil and ‘dropper’ from your local pharmacist) into your ear daily for 3 weeks. •do not place cotton wool in the ear as it only soaks up the oil • the olive oil softens the wax which will run out of it’s own accord.
Earwax (cerumen) coats and protects the inside of your ears; it does not usually need to be removed. Removal is only necessary when you develop large amounts of earwax, which make your ears feel blocked. Too much earwax can develop due to a very narrow or abnormally shaped ear canal, frequent use of earplugs, cleaning ears with cotton buds or for other unknown reasons. Often home treatment can remove earwax. If home treatment does not work, you should make an appointment to see a qualified professional.
What is ear wax? ear wax is a mixture of oil, fats, sweat and dead skin cells found in the ear canal. It is providing protection against bacteria, dirt and dust preventing them from damaging the ear canal and tympanic membrane. The oils also prevent the ear canal from becoming too dry. Why does ear wax build up? everyone is different and this also applies to ear wax. Some people just produce more wax than others. People with really narrow, hairy or small ear canals are more prone to a build up as it does not take much wax to be produced to block up their ears.
Want to find out when appointments become available?
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find doctors for ear wax cleaning and book appointments instantly.
You can search for doctors for ear wax cleaning or any other visit reason. Then, enter your desired appointment location and choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, you’ll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
What is ear wax?
Seeing a doctor we include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Earwax, also called cerumen, serves an essential function in the body. It helps remove dead skin cells, dirt, hair, and other debris from the ear canal. Earwax lowers the risk of infection and prevents the ear canal from feeling uncomfortable and itchy. It also helps reduce the irritation that water causes when it enters the ear canal. However, it is possible for the body to overproduce earwax, allowing it to build up and block the ear canal.