Ear wax, or cerumen, is an oil produced by follicles in the ear. It helps prevent dirt, bacteria and other contaminants from getting into the ear, explains the National Institutes of Health (NIH), guarding against infection and damage to delicate parts of the inner ear. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) also indicates that ear wax is an important moisturizer, and without it, ears can dry out and itch.
When Removal is Necessary
Cerumen typically works its way to the outside of the ear and falls out naturally, explains the Mayo Clinic, but it can accumulate or harden to the point that an impaction blocks the ear canal. This is common in people with narrow ear canals, as the Ear, Nose and Throat Center (ENTC) points out. According to the AAO-HNS, an ear wax blockage can cause symptoms like earaches, reduced hearing capabilities, tinnitus (ringing or other sounds in the ear), itchiness, odor, discharge and coughing. These are indications that ear wax removal may be necessary.
Preventing Necessary Removal
The best way to avoid ear wax blockages and having to remove them is consistent preventive measures. The American Hearing Research Foundation recommends putting a few drops of mineral oil or olive oil into your ears on a weekly basis. Leave the drops in for a few minutes, then lie down on your side to let them drip out. This will remove some wax and keep the rest soft and able to clear out on its own.
Worst Method of Removal
The least-effective, most damaging way to remove ear wax, as labeled by the AAO-HNS, is also probably the most common: using a cotton-tipped swab. It explains that this method is a leading cause of ear wax impactions, rather than a solution, because the swabs push wax deeper into the ear canal. The Mayo Clinic also cautions that trying to dig wax out with swabs or other implements can damage the eardrum or the lining of the ear canal.
Tips for Softening
Usually, softening ear wax with certain liquids is all the remedy needed for removing it. The NIH suggests using a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, over-the-counter ear drops, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Use an eyedropper, leave the drops in for a few minutes, and then lie on your side. Put a clean towel down under your head to absorb the excess oil.
Tips for Irrigation
You can use a syringe and warm water/saltwater (hot or cold water can cause significant dizziness or vertigo, warns the NIH) to irrigate ear wax. The Mayo Clinic advises doing so the day after softening drops were used. Gently pulling the outer ear up and back facilitates irrigation says the ENTC, which suggests leaving the fluid in for five minutes before tipping your head to let it run out.
When Home Removal Doesn't Work
Your doctor can remove ear wax if you're unable to successfully remove an impaction. He may try more forceful irrigation with a water pick, using a small suction device or excavating the blockage with a tool designed for that purpose. It's best to skip irrigation at home and consult your doctor if you have a tube in the ear, a perforated ear drum, diabetes or a weakened immune system, cautions the AAO-HNS.
