From fingers and wash cloths to cotton swabs and pen caps, people use an astonishing variety of tools to assist in wiping, swiping and digging sticky, yellow wax from their ears. Before you do anything else, protect your ears and your hearing by kicking the habit of using sharp or pointed objects--think cotton swabs, pen caps and hair pins--in your battle against ear wax. Then educate yourself about ear wax removal drops so you'll know when and how to use them.
The Basics
Formed in your ear canals, ear wax is a normal secretion that protects and defends the sensitive parts of your inner ear from marauding invaders, like bacteria and dust. When this wax collects and builds up in your ear canal, it may become compacted. Also called cerumen impaction, compacted ear wax is a fairly common problem for people of all ages, occurring in as much as 57 percent of nursing home geriatric patients, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The National Institutes of Health states that symptoms of compacted ear wax include a full feeling in your ear, hearing problems, noises or ringing in your ear and earaches.
Types
Two of the main types of drops for ear wax removal are water-based solutions and oil-based solutions, notes the AAFP. Water-based drops actually help dissolve the compacted ear wax; common options include hydrogen peroxide, a baking soda solution and plain water. Oil-based drops simply lubricate the hardened wax, which makes it easier to remove. Common oil-based drops include olive oil, almond oil and mineral oil.
Usage
Usage methods vary, depending upon whether you opt for water-based drops or oil-based drops. Water-based solutions generally require you to use as many drops as necessary to fill the affected ear canal completely with the solution. If you choose an oil-based preparation, use only three or four drops. Apply the drops in the affected ear once or twice daily for up to four days. If desired, you can flush the ear canal gently with warm water as well, doing so 15 to 30 minutes following a drop treatment.
Considerations
Although commercial ear-drop solutions provide an easy-to-use solution for ear wax removal, complete with detailed directions and tips for use, you can also utilize any of the approved liquids that you already have in your home. If you're on a tight budget, this can help save some money, as well as time, since you won't need to make a special trip to the pharmacy.
Warning
Never insert ear wax drops into an ear that may have a perforated eardrum. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, doing so could lead to pain and possible infection. The NIH states that symptoms of a ruptured eardrum may include earaches, hearing loss, buzzing in the ear, and clear, pus-tinged or bloody drainage. When in doubt, set up an appointment with your doctor promptly; after manually removing any wax buildup in your ear canal, he'll diagnose and treat your ruptured ear drum, if you have one.
