Photo from hearingaiddoctors.com
When earwax (cerumen) accumulates in your ear or gets too hard to wipe away normally, it causes earwax blockage.
Earwax is a beneficial and natural component of your body's defenses. It cleans, lubricates, and protects your ear canal by trapping debris and inhibiting bacterial growth.
If earwax blockage becomes an issue, you or your doctor can take simple procedures to safely remove the wax.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF EARWAX BLOCKAGE?
Earwax blockage can cause the following symptoms:
- Earache
- A sensation of fullness in the affected ear
- Noises or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Hearing loss in the affected ear
- Dizziness
- Cough
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE A DOCTOR?
Consult your doctor if you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of earwax blockage.
- Signs and symptoms may point to another illness: You may believe you can deal with earwax on your own, but there is no way to know if you have excessive earwax without having someone look in your ears, generally your doctor. Signs and symptoms such as earache or impaired hearing do not always indicate wax buildup. It's conceivable that you have another medical ailment concerning your ears that needs to be addressed.
- Wax removal is best performed by a doctor: Excess earwax can quickly cause harm to your ear canal and eardrum. Do not attempt to remove earwax from your ear canal with any device, especially if you have had ear surgery, have a hole (perforation) in your eardrum, or are experiencing ear pain or drainage.
Children's ears are typically examined as part of any medical examination. During an
office visit, a doctor can remove extra earwax from your child's ear if necessary.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF EARWAX BLOCKAGE?
Wax is produced in your ears by glands in the skin that lines the outer portion of your ear canals. These tubes' wax and microscopic hairs capture dust and other foreign particles that could harm deeper tissues like your eardrum.
A tiny amount of earwax is washed away or falls out while new wax is secreted to replace it in most people. Earwax can pile up and obstruct your ear canal if you secrete an excessive amount of it or if it is not cleaned effectively.
Earwax blockages are prevalent when people attempt to clean their own ears by inserting cotton swabs or other things into their ears. Rather than eliminating wax, this frequently pushes it deeper into the ear.
HOW IS EARWAX BLOCKAGE DIAGNOSED?
Your doctor can tell if you have earwax obstruction by inspecting your ear with a special equipment that illuminates and magnifies your inner ear (otoscope).
HOW IS EARWAX BLOCKAGE TREATED?
Excess wax can be removed by your doctor using a small, curved device called a curet or by suction while inspecting the ear. Your doctor can alternatively use a water pick or a rubber-bulb syringe filled with warm water to drain out the wax.
If earwax buildup becomes a persistent issue, your doctor may advise you to use a wax-removal drug, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox Earwax Removal Kit, Murine Ear Wax Removal System). Use these drops only as indicated because they can irritate the sensitive skin of the eardrum and ear canal.
Alternative treatment
To eliminate earwax, some people employ ear candling, which includes inserting a lighted, hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear. According to the hypothesis, the heat from the flame will produce a vacuum seal, causing the earwax to stick to the candle.
Ear candling, on the other hand, is not a suggested treatment for earwax blockage. Ear candling does not help, according to research, and it can cause injuries such as burns, ear canal blockages, and even perforations.
Before attempting any other earwax removal methods, consult your doctor.
HOME REMEDIES FOR EARWAX BLOCKAGE
Home remedies and way of life
If your eardrum lacks a tube or a hole, the following self-care procedures may help you eliminate extra earwax that is clogging your ear canal:
- Make the wax softer: Apply a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin, or diluted hydrogen peroxide to your ear canal with an eyedropper. People with ear infections should not use ear drops unless prescribed by a doctor.
- Warm water should be used: After a day or two, after the wax has melted, gently shoot warm water into your ear canal with a rubber-bulb syringe. To straighten your ear canal, tilt your head and pull your outer ear up and back. When you're done irrigating, tilt your head to the side to allow the water drain.
- Dry out your ear canals: When finished, use a towel or a hand-held dryer to gently dry your outer ear.
This wax-softening and irrigation treatment may need to be repeated several times before the excess earwax falls out. The softening chemicals, on the other hand, may only release the outer layer of the wax, causing it to lodge deeper in the ear canal or against the eardrum. Consult your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after a few sessions.
Store-bought earwax removal kits can also be useful at removing wax accumulation. Consult your doctor for guidance on how to choose and use alternate earwax removal procedures.
Do not attempt to dig it out
Never try to remove excessive or hardened earwax with readily available things such as a paper clip, cotton swab, or hairpin. You risk pushing the wax deeper into your ear and damaging the lining of your ear canal or eardrum.