Earwax Removal

Did You Know?
Contrary to popular belief, the use of ear buds is more harmful than beneficial when it comes to cleaning the ears. Ear buds actually keep pushing the earwax further into the ear canal, eventually blocking the eardrum, causing earache and hearing loss.

Also called 'cerumen' in medical terms, earwax is a sticky waxy substance that is secreted by the glands in the ear canal. It usually contains dead skin, oil and sweat. The primary function of earwax is to protect the ear from bacterial infections, dust and water.

Earwax can be classified into wet and dry wax. Wet wax can either be soft or hard. When the hard wax gets stuck inside the ear, it becomes very difficult to remove. This kind of wax is called 'impacted earwax'.

Different people produce different quantities of earwax. Too much earwax may often block the ears and cause muffled hearing or temporary hearing loss. Bacteria that may remain trapped along with the wax inside the ear canal can put a person at the risk of developing a ear infection.

Removing earwax is a common hygienic practice, but most people often use a cotton swab, their fingers, pins, etc., for this purpose. However, this is a very unwise thing to do, as it may lead to injury or hearing loss, and most importantly, it only pushes the wax further inside the ear canal. That is why these methods are not recommended by doctors.

A lot of people also think that earwax removal is not necessary as the ears are equipped to naturally clean themselves. This is not at all true.

You will mostly have to get your ears cleaned when:

• You are having difficulty in hearing
• Experiencing pain in the ear canal
• The hearing in one ear isn't as clear as then other

Earwax removal can be done at home itself. Here are some methods that you can try:

• Oils: One of the best method would be to use some warm oil, like baby oil or olive oil. Do make sure that the oil is not too hot.

A few drops of oil can be put in the affected ear canal, while holding that side up. Leave it inside for around 5 minutes, and then turn over the other way around to let the oil drip out onto a towel. This will help further if it is done after a shower.

• Ear Drops: There are some over-the-counter ear drops that might also be helpful (preferably antibiotic and anti-inflammatory).

Put a few drops of wax softener for 4 or 5 days, and then use a rubber bulb syringe to squirt warm water into the ear canal. This will help the wax drip out along with the water. After that, a cotton ball can be used to dry out all the water.

Glycerin and hydrogen peroxide can also be used for the aforementioned procedure. They are both safe and easy to use. Ear drops should however be of room temperature, as instilling ear drops that are too warm or too cold might damage the eardrum.

It is advised to visit a doctor or a health professional to get your ears cleaned, as they use special tools designed for this very purpose without causing any injury or harm.

Some of the methods that are used by specialists are:

• Ear Irrigation/Lavage: In this method, the doctor will first soften the wax over a period of 5 days using wax-dissolving agents. Saline water and an electronic irrigator will then be used to wash out the wax.

However, this procedure cannot be performed on people who have a perforated eardrum, a middle ear infection, or have undergone any surgery.

• Special Instruments: If the previous procedure does not work or cannot be used, the doctor will use an otoscope, metal speculum, and a special instrument called a curette to extract the wax.

• Suction Process: When none of the aforementioned procedures work, the wax is sucked out using a small suction tube. This procedure is comparatively quite uncomfortable and noisy. It should be performed by a specialist only.

Ear candling is another method that is used to clean ears. In this procedure, one end of a hollow candle is inserted inside the ear and the other end is lit up. It is believed that the smoke creates a vacuum which sucks out the earwax, depositing it inside the hollow candle. This procedure, however, is not recommended.

In fact, these products are illegal in countries like Canada, and in the U.S., their sale promoting them for medical purposes is prohibited.

It is recommended that earwax removal should be done every six months to one year, depending upon the level of secretion of the concerned individual. Also, if you are not too sure of adopting any procedure for yourself, the best thing is to get it done by a specialist.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.