As one of the body's many naturally-occurring protective substances, ear wax is incredibly useful to our health and wellbeing. But what exactly is ear wax?
Ear wax is an oily material produced by glands within the ear canal. It's role in the body is to trap dust, protect the ear canal lining and reduce the likelihood of bacterial infection. Maintaining a healthy level of ear wax is key. If you feel the symptoms of ear wax build up or believe you may be experiencing an ear wax infection or blockage, please visit your GP or contact your local Amplifon clinic for further information.
Ear wax is usually harmless, but if you have hard wax or too much compacted in your ear, it can cause pain and discomfort. If you suffer from frequent ear infections, flaky skin near the ear or hair in the ear canal, you may find you have a heightened risk of developing an ear wax blockage or other problems, including hearing loss from ear wax.
An ENT specialist can assist you with these conditions:
It's best to leave any wax build up to the medical professionals who know how to remove ear wax. Avoid putting objects, such as cotton buds or hair pins, directly into your ears. Even if you are using these to remove excess wax, you can easily damage your ear canal or ear drum, lodging wax further inside your ear.
If you do want to try to prevent ear wax build up or treat issues at home, you can use ear drops or spray as recommended by our expert audiologists and audiometrists. This will liquify and loosen stubborn wax, allowing it to work its way out naturally. You can also carefully clean the outer ear area to help stop debris from getting inside.
You might notice you have different ear wax types and ear wax colours in your ears at any given time. That's completely normal. Here are some common types:
If you have any questions about your ear wax or how to best manage it, don't hesitate to contact a Amplifon clinic for a FREE hearing check.
