A certain amount of earwax (cerumen) is nature's way of protecting your ear canal by locking in dirt and retarding the growth of bacteria. Although the reason is unclear, some people develop earwax blockage when an excess amount of wax accumulates and doesn't easily wash away. There are a variety of home remedies to safely remove ear wax as well as several methods your doctor can perform.
Causes
The wax in your ears is concealed by glands in the skin that runs along your ear canals. When your ears are operating smoothly, a small amount of wax travels to the outer ear cavity where it falls or rinses out. Sometimes, the glands create more wax than can be easily removed from the ear. When excess wax develops, it may harden in the ear canal and cause blockage. Attempts to clean out the ear may only push the wax further into the canal.
Symptoms
Some of the common symptoms of earwax blockage are a feeling of fullness in the ear that can lead to varying degrees of hearing loss. Ear pain and tinnitus (a booming or ringing sensation in may also be present. The ears may itch and/or exude an odor.
Ear Wax Softeners
The National Institute of Health (NIH) says ear wax blockage can usually be treated at home. Products including commercial ear drops that contain carbamide peroxide (Debrox, Auro, Murine), baby oil, mineral oil and glycerin can help soften ear wax.
Commercial drops or warmed oils can be placed into the ear with an eyedropper for about five minutes before being drained out. Twice daily treatments may be necessary. If the wax buildup hasn't subsided after four or five days, consult your doctor.
Irrigation
Irrigation is another means of eliminating excess ear wax. With your head in an upright position, flatten the ear canal by holding the outer surface of the ear and softly pull upward. Use a syringe to guide a small stream of body temperature water against the ear canal wall next to the wax plug. The water will drain out when you tip your head. Several irrigation treatments may be necessary.
Once the wax is removed from both ear drops and irrigation treatments, the ear should be fully dried with a towel or hand-held hair dryer.
Professional Removal
Sometimes it's best for a doctor to remove ear wax. Professional removal is recommended if you've undergone surgery, have a hole (perforation) in your eardrum or experience ear pain or drainage. Your doctor can remove ear wax with small, curved instrument called a curette or by using suction. In some cases, your doctor may wash out the wax with rubber-bulb syringe filled with warm water.
Outlook
There are no proven methods to prevent ear wax blockage, but treatments are, by and large, mostly successful. However, the blockage may redevelop at some point. The hearing loss associated with earwax buildup is most often a temporary condition. Once the blockage is removed through irrigation or ear drops, normal hearing is usually restored.
