You may have heard the saying, "you should not put anythingin your ears that is smaller than your elbows." But how many of us actuallylisten to that? And how can you clean your ears safely?
First, a quick anatomy lesson. The outer ear includes thepinna, or the fleshy external part of the ear made of cartilage, as well as theear canal going to the eardrum. The middle ear, composed of the eardrum,creates vibrations based on the sound waves going into the ear. The inner earis responsible for converting vibrations into nerve impulses into the brain,for us to hear. The inner ear also plays a role in our balance.
So what is ear waxand why do we need it?
The ear canal is covered with skin. The wall of the earcanal is sensitive to touch because there is a cranial nerve that passes justbelow the back canal wall surface. The outer two thirds of the ear canal hascartilage with glands that produce ear wax. Ear wax contains enzymes that helpprevent bacteria and fungus from growing in the ear. It also traps dust anddirt particles that enter the ear.
Wax is healthy for you and it should be there! It only needs to be removed for thefollowing reasons:
1. When a doctor needs to move it out of the way in order tosee the eardrum to rule out an infection or other problems going on.
2. When there is a giant blockage of ear wax that is causinghearing loss or pain.
When excess ear wax is pushed further into the ear canal orhardens, it can become impacted. This affects about 10 percent of children, fivepercent of healthy adults, and 57 percent of older adults in nursing homes,according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.
The removal of earwax
Most people reach for the Q-tips. I would caution againstthis. In fact, Q-tips were not made to clean the ear canal itself, only partsof the external ear. It often will just push the wax deeper into the ear canal,causing ear pain and further blockage, which is harder to remove. Usually earwax on its own will accumulate, dry and then fall out of the ear, carrying dirtand dust with it.
The use of ear candles has received a lot of attentionrecently, but I strongly advise against using these as they are not safe, noreffective. There is a risk of burning the ear canal and possibly causing a holein the eardrum. Rarely, if a child is not able to cooperate in the clinic forear wax removal, and the ear wax is causing significant hearing loss, we mayremove it under sedation in the operating room.
If your doctor recommends removing the ear wax, I recommendusing over the counter ear wax removing solutions, like Debrox or mineral oil. Debroxhas a diluted form of hydrogen peroxide and is safe in the ears for shortperiods of time. This is safe for children to use as well. Lay on your rightside, pull the ear lobe backwards and apply three to four drops into the earcanal. Then press the front part of the ear a few times to make sure the eardrops work further into the ear canal. Stay on your side for a few minutes,then repeat on the other ear. Consider doing this at night or before showering.You can do this every two weeks for adults to help lubricate the ear canal andprevent the hardening and impaction of ear cerumen.
If you or your child has ear tubes, I would check with yourENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist before using Debrox or mineral oil.
If your ears feel plugged or painful despite using the eardrops, it's time to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. Theywill evaluate your ears and, if there is excess ear wax, they will irrigate outthe ears with water. If this is not effective, you may be referred to an ENTprovider to safely remove the ear wax under the guidance of a microscope.
FAQs
The temperatures produced by the candle were below body temperature, far too low to melt the wax. The debris inside burned candles is supposed to be the impurities removed from your ear, but it shows up in the candles even if they haven't been near an ear canal.
How long should you leave Debrox in your ear? ›
We recommend draining your ears after the Debrox® drops have been applied and in your ears for 5-10 minutes. You can so this by gently tilting your head and allowing the drops drain out of your ears. Doing this allows the drops and any loose or dissolved earwax to drain from your ear.
What does the wax inside the ear act as? ›
Ear wax protects the ear by: Trapping and preventing dust, bacteria, and other germs and small objects from entering and damaging the ear. Protecting the delicate skin of the ear canal from getting irritated when water is in the canal.
What happens when your ears are full of wax? ›
If left untreated, excessive earwax may cause earwax impaction symptoms to worsen. These symptoms might include hearing loss, ear irritation, tinnitus and other issues. A buildup of earwax might also make it difficult to see into your ear, which may result in potential issues going undiagnosed.
What comes out during ear candling? ›
One hypothesis is that of the “chimney effect”: the burning candle creates a vacuum that draws wax out of the ear along with debris and bacteria. The other theory claims that at the time of the candling no ear wax is drawn out, but that the wax heats up, melts, and comes out of the ear over the following few days.
Does hydrogen peroxide dissolve ear wax? ›
The medical term for earwax is cerumen, and hydrogen peroxide is a cerumenolytic, which means that it can soften, break down, and dissolve earwax. Ear drops can contain a variety of forms of hydrogen peroxide. A common type is carbamide hydroxide, which adds oxygen to the wax, causing it to bubble.
Will wax fall out after Debrox? ›
When drops are placed in the ear, oxygen is released. This release allows Debrox® to foam on contact as it gently softens and loosens earwax. Once broken down, earwax is able to naturally drain from the ear.
What works better, Debrox or hydrogen peroxide? ›
Dr. Taylor notes she recently surveyed a group of 220 fellow audiologists, and nearly 80% of them said they preferred for patients to use an over-the-counter product like Debrox EarWax Removal Drops instead of using hydrogen peroxide for at-home wax removal. Debrox uses carbamide peroxide as its active ingredient.
What does dark brown earwax mean? ›
If your earwax is dark brown or red-tinged, this could be a sign of an injury within the ear. This could range from a minor scratch in the ear canal to a ruptured eardrum.
How to get impacted ear wax out? ›
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. Once the wax is loose and soft, all that is usually needed to remove it from the ear canal is a gentle, warm shower.
Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.
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 scoop out ear wax at home? ›
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.
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.
What is the white powder after ear candling? ›
There will also be a powdery residue from the candle. Approximately 10% is candle residue. Laboratory analysis has shown that residue removed from the ear consisted of earwax, residuals from past infections, fungus, bacteria, yeast/Candida, ear mites, worms, parasites and/or hair.
Is ear wax a true wax? ›
No, earwax isn't really wax. It gets its name from its waxy consistency.
What's the best way to remove ear wax? ›
Irrigating (gently rinsing) your ear canal can reduce the risk of earwax impaction. It involves using a rubber bulb syringe to squirt water or a saline solution into the ear canal. When the water or solution drains out of the ear, it also flushes out loose ear wax.
What does dark brown ear wax mean? ›
If your earwax is dark brown or red-tinged, this could be a sign of an injury within the ear. This could range from a minor scratch in the ear canal to a ruptured eardrum.
