Cerumen, commonly known as earwax, prevents dirt and other foreign bodies from entering your ear canal. Earwax typically falls out of your ear on its own or washes away as you bathe, but sometimes the wax can build up in the ear, causing dizziness, earaches or reduced hearing. A physician can manually remove the excess wax, but ear drops available over the counter may also provide relief.
Identification
Cerumenolytics are substances that soften or break down earwax and can be water-based, oil-based or non-water/non-oil based. An article published in "American Family Physician" in 2007 says water-based and non-water/non-oil-based cerumenolytics help dissolve ear wax, while oil-based substances soften the wax to make it easier for your physician to remove it.
Ingredients
Ingredients found in water-based cerumenolytics include sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, docusate sodium and triethanolamine polypeptide oleate. Oil-based cerumenolytics may include olive oil, almond oil or camphor oil. Non-water/non-oil based cerumenolytics may include carbamide peroxide and choline salicylate and glycerol.
Usage
Follow the directions given by your doctor or the product label when using ear drops. Typically, you'll be instructed to tilt your head to the side and place several drops into the affected ear. To keep the drops from slipping out, you can rest your head on a pillow or place a cotton ball in your ear. To remove excess earwax after completing treatments with ear drops, you can irrigate the ear with warm water using a soft bulb ear syringe.
Warnings
Consult your doctor before using ear drops if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the drops or if you have sustained injury to your eardrum. Most ear drops should not be used for longer than four days unless your doctor has directed you otherwise. You should never attempt to physically remove earwax yourself. Objects such as cotton swabs can push the earwax further into the ear canal, causing additional discomfort.
Expert Insight
An article in the "British Journal of General Practice" reviews several studies of the effectiveness of different cerumenolytics, and in many cases has deemed the results inconclusive, either because the results were statistically insignificant or because the studies were limited. The article contends that a water- or oil-based ear drop is "probably more effective than no treatment," and that saline may be equally or more effective than over-the-counter ear drops made specifically for removing earwax.
