Many of us have tried to remove earwax at some point. What few people know, however, is that earwax is supposed to be in your ears. The sticky, brown or yellow substance is a powerful protective tool that cleans the ear canal and traps dirt and bacteria before they can enter your system.
Not only is earwax protective, but it also clears itself out most of the time. If you stick a finger or cotton swab in your ear and the wax comes out brown, that’s a sign that it’s older and was likely on its way out.
Do I Ever Need To Remove Wax?
Most wax will move out of the ear without the need for a helping hand. There are some cases where it might not be able to do so, called earwax blockages. These blockages affect about 10% of children and 5% of adults[1]. They’re more likely to affect those who:
- Wear hearing aids, earbuds or earplugs
- Have skin conditions like eczema
- Put cotton swabs, fingers or other small items in the ears
- Have lots of ear hair
- Have misshapen ear canals
- Have developmental disabilities
- Are over 55 years old
Earwax blockages can cause symptoms, including:
- Muffled hearing
- Tinnitus
- Pain or pressure
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
- Itchiness in the ear
- Fluid discharge from the ear
- Dizziness
If you develop an earwax blockage, safe removal is key to preventing damage to the ear canal or eardrum.
The Steps of Safe Removal
If you have symptoms of an earwax blockage, schedule an appointment with Benke Ear Nose & Throat Clinic for an ear exam. We’ll double-check that earwax is the cause of your symptoms and remove it using irrigation or manual removal:
- Irrigation. Irrigation involves using a syringe to rinse your ear canal with water or saline.
- Manual removal. We can also manually remove your earwax using a cerumen spoon, forceps or a suction device.
In-office earwax removal is quick and painless. If you’re prone to blockages, you can use at-home earwax removal kits with a dissolving or softening solution and a suction bulb, available at most Cleburne drugstores, to clear them on your own.
Remember, never, under any circumstances, attempt to remove earwax by shoving something like a finger, cotton swab or bobby pin into the ear. Doing so will only put your ears at risk of damage. If you develop symptoms of an earwax blockage, call Benke Ear Nose & Throat Clinic to schedule a safe removal.
[1] Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Earwax buildup and blockage. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14428-ear-wax-buildup–blockage