Wax has many uses, ranging from crayons and adhesives to polishes and candles. It also helps to protect and lubricate your ears.
Cerumen, commonly called earwax, is found in the ear canal. It's made up of several components.
The ear canal is lined with small hairs and glands. Earwax is made up of secretions from these glands, skin cells that have sloughed off, hairs that have shed and usual bacteria that lives on the skin's surface.
Earwax has many jobs. It moisturizes the fragile ear canal skin, and prevents dry and itchy ears. It also protects the ear canal skin from infection, and traps dust and other foreign particles. It has antibacterial properties to protect your ears from unhealthy bacteria. Finally, its water-repelling features prevent water damage to the ear canal and eardrum.
How to clean your ears
The ears are self-cleaning for most people. Earwax migrates from deeper in the ear canal to the ear canal opening via different mechanisms, including normal skin migration pattern and movement of the jaw joint. These mechanism help push earwax outward toward the ear canal opening. Once it arrives, it falls out or is washed away.
You don't need to take extra steps to keep your ears clean. Just wash your hair regularly and gently dry your ear canal opening with a towel.
Clinical removal of earwax
Some people produce an excessive amount of earwax. This can be due to various causes. Other people have issues with wax blockage because they put items into their ears, thus embedding the wax deeper into the ear canal.
Talk with your health care team if you have concerns about your earwax or concerns that you may have a wax blockage. They can remove excess wax in the clinic using a small instrument called a curette, or suction or other specialized methods.
Hydrogen peroxide drops
Your health care team may recommend that you use hydrogen peroxide drops in your ears. Hydrogen peroxide is a cerumenolytic. This means that it softens, loosens, dissolves and breaks down earwax.
This treatment should only be completed under the guidance or at the direction of a health care professional who will direct you on proper use, including the number of drops and length of time. It is likely your health care team will want you to return to the clinic after completing the treatment course to make sure that any remaining earwax is cleared and perform an ear exam.
Hydrogen peroxide drops should not be attempted in people who have a history of recurrent ear infections, holes in eardrums or prior ear surgeries. It can cause harm and pain in these cases.
Keep items out of the ears
Never attempt to dig out excess or hard earwax using a paper clip, Q-tip or another small object. These instruments can push the earwax deeper into the ear canal, which can cause an earwax impaction.
Q-tips and other small objects can traumatize the fragile ear canal skin and lead to infection and bleeding. They also can disrupt the tiny hairs that protect your ear canal skin. Finally, Q-tips contribute to single-use plastic waste, which is yet another great reason to avoid them.
Fareeda Hussain, M.D., is an otolaryngologistand head and neck surgeon in Albert Leaand Austin, Minnesota.
FAQs
Take care of your ears
Never insert a swab or anything else into the ear canal. Doing so can push the wax deeper, even if it appears that you're removing some wax. Help the earwax's natural migration out of the ear by using a warm, wet washcloth to clean the outer ear when you bathe each night.
How do you keep your ears clear of wax? ›
Take care of your ears
Never insert a swab or anything else into the ear canal. Doing so can push the wax deeper, even if it appears that you're removing some wax. Help the earwax's natural migration out of the ear by using a warm, wet washcloth to clean the outer ear when you bathe each night.
How do I remove wax buildup from my ear? ›
Soften and loosen the earwax with warm mineral oil. You also can try hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal amount of room temperature water. Place 2 drops of the fluid, warmed to body temperature, in the ear two times a day for up to 5 days.
What dissolves ear wax immediately? ›
If the aim is to completely break down the wax, waxsol, peroxide 3% or a sodium bicarbonate solution (which can be prepared by your local pharmacist) is effective.
How to prevent ear wax build up? ›
Minimise ear wax build-up
- Avoid cleaning the ear canals with cotton buds or fingertips, as any object poked into the ear can compact the wax and cause damage to the ear canal.
- Use wax-softening drops or olive oil twice a week, or according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- Limit ear cleaning to the outer ear only.
Purchase a soft rubber bulb syringe made for ear cleaning, and fill it with warm water. Tilt your head to the side with a thick towel or basin below the ear. Gently squeeze the bulb so that the warm water shoots into your ear. Allow the water to run down into the towel or basin.
What kills earwax? ›
A common method for earwax removal is to add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to a damp cotton ball and apply it to the affected ear. Hydrogen peroxide is a common antiseptic. A person can also use a clean eyedropper to drip the solution into the ear canal.
How do you get rid of earwax in 30 seconds? ›
Soak a cotton ball with the hydrogen peroxide. Tilt your head and drip the peroxide into your ear. You may hear it fizz as it tries to dissolve the earwax. After about 30 seconds, drain your ear onto a washcloth.
Does earwax go away naturally? ›
Once earwax naturally moves toward the opening of the ear canal, it typically falls out or washes away. Washing your hair is usually enough to remove the wax on your ear's surface. During a shower, a small amount of warm water enters the ear canal and loosens any wax accumulated there.
How to tell if you have too much ear wax? ›
Signs and symptoms of earwax blockage may include:
- Earache.
- Feeling of fullness in the ear.
- Ringing or noises in the ear (tinnitus)
- Hearing loss.
- Dizziness.
- Cough.
- Itchiness in the ear.
- Odor or discharge in the ear.
Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.
What home remedy can I use to remove stubborn ear wax? ›
Share this:
- Soften the wax. Use an eyedropper to apply a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin or hydrogen peroxide in your ear canal.
- Use warm water. After a day or two, when the wax is softened, use a rubber-bulb syringe to gently squirt warm water into your ear canal. ...
- Dry your ear canal.
Massage Your Ears
To massage ear wax out or loosen the ear wax, try the following: Place your pointer and middle fingers behind your ear lobe. Press in and make slow circles. Tip your head to one side to encourage the wax to drain.
How to unblock ears full of wax? ›
Ear irrigation
Another option is irrigating or syringing your ear. This involves using a syringe to rinse out your ear canal with water or saline solution. Generally, you should soften the wax first by using a cerumenolytic solution. Then, you'll gently irrigate your ear with a bulb syringe.
How to keep your ears wax free? ›
You cannot prevent earwax. It's there to protect your ears from dirt and germs. But regularly using eardrops, or olive or almond oil, will help soften earwax build-up. This will help it fall out on its own and should stop your ears getting blocked.
Why does my ear release so much wax? ›
Excessive earwax may be caused by the shape of a person's ear, genetics, stress, inserted devices, and hairy ear canal hair. Older adults are also more likely to have larger amounts of earwax. Symptoms of excess earwax may include a cough, hearing loss, ear pain, itchiness, or tinnitus.
How do you unblock your ears? ›
If your ears are plugged, try swallowing, yawning or chewing sugar-free gum to open your eustachian tubes. If this doesn't work, take a deep breath and try to blow out of your nose gently while pinching your nostrils closed and keeping your mouth shut. If you hear a popping noise, you know you have succeeded.
Is hydrogen peroxide good for ear wax? ›
Hydrogen peroxide is a solution (liquid) that can be used to treat ear infections or the build-up of wax. It is generally safe to use in all ears. Do not use if it irritates you or causes pain. You can buy 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide from your local chemist – no prescription is required.
