Earwax, or cerumen, is a natural secretion of hair follicles and glands in the ear canal designed to protect your ears by preventing the entry of harmful microorganisms and dust particles. If you produce excessive amounts of earwax, it can solidify inside your ear canal and decrease or block your normal hearing. Fortunately, you can remove earwax through a number of home care options.
Softening Wax
Most of the time, home remedies can effectively resolve your earwax blockage, according to Medline Plus. Begin by attempting to soften any excess earwax with a few drops of mineral oil, glycerin, baby oil or commercially available treatment products placed in your ear canal. You can also use detergent drops containing carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide for the same purpose.
Irrigation
You can also try to remove your earwax by irrigating, or washing out, your ear canal, the Medline Plus website reports. In this approach, you will use a syringe to direct body-temperature water into your ear canal at the site of the wax blockage, then allow the water to drain out of your ear by tipping your head sideways. Commercially available products for irrigation may mix water with saline, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Considerations
You may need to repeat the irrigation process a number of times to produce adequate results. To gain greater treatment effectiveness, the American Academy of Otolaryngology recommends placing wax-dissolving drops, saline or water in your ear canal roughly 15 to 30 minutes prior to irrigation. Do not use irrigation as a treatment option if you have a perforated eardrum, weakened immune system, eardrum tube or diabetes.
Precautions
You should not put any objects inside your ear canal, including cotton swabs, the American Academy of Otolaryngology reports. Typically, use of swabs either creates a blockage by compacting your earwax or worsens an existing blockage. The academy also recommends avoiding the use of ear candles, which can result in perforation of your eardrum, burns or further obstruction of your ear canal.
Outcomes
Your earwax blockages may reappear after successful home treatment, Medline Plus reports. If you experience frequent blockages, consider setting up a routine of regular irrigation to prevent wax buildup. If home treatment of earwax problems is unsuccessful, consult your doctor for additional advice and treatment options.
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