As an antibacterial lubricant, earwax plays a key role in protecting hearing and keeping sensitive ear canals from drying out. But some people have excessive earwax, which often causes hearing loss and other symptoms. Quick earwax removal generally gets rid of these problematic symptoms promptly, provided you choose a safe wax removal method that's appropriate for your health situation.
The Facts
A sticky substance located in your ear canals, earwax or cerumen is made up of a mix of sloughed skin cells, hair and secretions from your ears' ceruminous glands. In most cases, earwax moves slowly to the opening of your ear canal, where you can wipe it away easily with a damp cloth or tissue. Sometimes, earwax may collect in your ear canal, creating cerumen compaction. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians or AAFP, earwax buildup develops in children and adults, appearing most commonly in elderly people and special-needs individuals.
Types
According to Dr. Frank Lucente and Dr. Matthew Hanson, contributing authors in "Ballenger's Otorhinolaryngology," earwax removal methods include irrigation, wax-softening drops and manual removal by a doctor. Irrigation and wax-softening drops--also called cerumenolytics--may be utilized at home or by your doctor, but these methods could require several days of treatment if used at home. In many cases, especially if cost is not a concern and you're able to get an appointment quickly, having your doctor remove the chunk of wax provides a safe option that typically requires nothing more than a single office visit.
Method
If you have a mild case of compacted wax, you may be able to treat it at home in less than an hour by using a combination of wax-softening drops and irrigation. Fill the affected ear canal with a water-based cerumenolytic, such as water, saline or hydrogen peroxide. Wait 15 to 30 minutes before irrigating the affected ear with water, as recommended by the AAFP. Make sure you irrigate the affected ear using body-temperature water to minimize your chances of experiencing side effects, such as dizziness, cautions Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia.
Considerations
Think about your possible risk factors before attempting to remove earwax quickly yourself. In certain cases, manual removal by a doctor provides the preferred removal method, due to possible complications that could occur if you attempt to remove the wax yourself at home using irrigation and wax-softening drops. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, having your doctor manually extricate wax buildup is the preferred removal method if you have certain risk factors that include ear tubes, diabetes, narrow ear canals or a punctured eardrum.
Warning
Never attempt to remove earwax quickly from your ear canal using sharp or pointed items such as hair pins, pen caps or cotton swabs. Inserting these items into your ear canal could worsen compacted wax by shoving the chunk of wax further back into the ear canal. This could lead to other complications, such as a ruptured eardrum, notes MayoClinic.com. During usage, you could also accidentally scratch your ear canal, which might create an open wound or abrasion that could get infected.
References
- "Ballenger's Otorhinolaryngology"; Dr. James B. Snow et al; 2009
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Cerumen Impaction
- Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia: Wax Blockage
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery: Earwax
- MayoClinic.com: Earwax Blockage Lifestyle and Home Remedies
