| What Is Earwax Blockage? |
Earwax (cerumen) is part of your body’s normal defenses. It protects your ear canal by trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria.
At times, however, too much earwax may accumulate and become too hard to wash away naturally or to be easily removed using conventional methods. This wax can then block your ear canal, causing an earache and decreased hearing in the involved ear. It’s not known why earwax accumulates excessively for some people and not for others and often in only one ear. If excess earwax becomes a problem, you or your doctor can take steps to remove it safely.
| Causes |
The cerumen in your ear canal is secreted by glands in your skin that line the canal. The wax and tiny hairs of this passage trap dust and other foreign particles that could damage deeper structures, such as your eardrum.
In most people, a small amount of earwax regularly makes its way to the opening of the ear where it’s washed away or falls out as new wax is secreted to replace it. If you secrete an excessive amount of wax or it isn’t cleared effectively, however, it may build up and block your ear canal.
| When to Seek Medical Advice |
There’s no way to know if you have excessive earwax without a doctor looking into your ear. Don’t assume that symptoms related to the ear or ears such as earache or diminished hearing are due to wax buildup. If you’ve had a problem with earwax in the past, you can’t be sure that your current symptoms are caused by excessive earwax without seeing a doctor first. Other medical conditions involving the ear could be present and require medical attention.
Asking your doctor to remove earwax may seem unnecessary, but your ear and eardrum are very delicate and can be damaged easily. Seek medical advice instead of trying to remove hardened wax that resists simple self-care measures. Also, don’t consider removing earwax on your own if you’ve had a past ear surgery, a hole (perforation) in your eardrum, or are having ear pain or drainage.
Children usually have their ears checked as part of any routine visit to the doctor. If necessary, the doctor can remove excess earwax from a child’s ear in the office.
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| Treatment |
Your doctor can remove excessive wax using a small, curved instrument called a curette. Your doctor can also flush out the wax using a Water Pik or a bulb syringe filled with warm water.
If earwax buildup is a recurring problem, your doctor may recommend that you use a wax-removal medication, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox, Murine Ear Drops), every 4 to 8 weeks as a preventative measure. Children with troublesome earwax buildup may need to use the eardrop medication more often, such as every 2 weeks.
| Self-Care |
These simple self-care measures may help you remove excess earwax blocking your ear canal:
- Use an eyedropper to apply a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin or hydrogen peroxide in
your ear canal twice a day for several days. This will soften the wax.
- After a day or two when the wax is softened, use a 3-ounce rubber-bulb syringe to gently squirt
warm water into your ear canal. Tilt your head and pull your outer ear back to straighten your ear
canal. When finished irrigating, tip your head to the side to let the water drain out. Repeat until
the extra wax falls out.
- When finished, dry your outer ear with a towel or a hand-held hair dryer. Dry your inner ear by applying one full eyedropper of rubbing alcohol, then tipping your head to the side to drain the alcohol.
Earwax removal kits sold in stores also can be effective at removing wax buildup. If you’re unsure which one is right for you, ask your doctor for advice or information about how to properly use other earwax removal methods.
Never attempt to dig out excessive or hardened earwax with items such as a paper clip, cotton swab or hairpin. You may push the wax further into your ear and do serious damage to the lining of your ear canal and even to your eardrum.
— January 24, 2002 —
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