Glands in the outer portion of the ear produce a substance referred to as earwax or cerumen. Functions of earwax include protecting and lubricating the outer ear canal as well as trapping dirt to help prevent ear infections. Abnormal earwax conditions include excessive amounts of earwax production and hardened earwax. Most often, home treatments remedy any complications associated with the abnormal earwax, but some individuals may need to visit a physician to treat the condition.
Symptoms
Earwax is a sticky, yellow substance that naturally falls out of the ear canal. Attempting to clean earwax out of the ear may force the wax deeper into the ear canal and cause the earwax to harden, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The earwax may also cause symptoms such as itching and an odor.
Causes
Some individuals naturally produce excessive amounts of earwax. Hardened earwax may form from using hearing aids in the ear or from using objects such as bobby pins or cotton-tipped swabs to clean the earwax out of the ear. Using a hearing aid or objects to clean the ear may push the earwax down towards the eardrum, where it can lodge and harden.
Complications
Hearing loss is one of the complications associated with hardened earwax blocking the ear canal. The earwax may cause an earache, feelings of fullness in the ear or a ringing in the ear, called tinnitus.
Treatment
Treatment for abnormal earwax involves removing excessive amounts of earwax or the earwax blockage. Using drops such as hydrogen peroxide or mineral oil may help soften and erode the earwax. Irrigating the ear with warm saline or tap water may help flush out the earwax. The wax may slide out of the ear canal and be wiped away. Individuals with diabetes or a ruptured eardrum need to avoid putting any fluid into the ear canal unless instructed by a physician.
When to See a Physician
A physician may need to treat abnormal earwax if home treatments do not remedy the condition. A physician can remove hardened earwax or excessive amounts of wax from the ear with special tools that scoop out the earwax. Individuals with a ruptured eardrum or a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or a weakened immune system, need to see a physician for safe removal of abnormal earwax, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
