So what is ear wax? And why do we need it?
Not the most glamorous of topics, but ear wax affects more people than you'd think, and a lot of the common advice about it is either wrong or actively unhelpful. So here's what you actually need to know.
What ear wax is and what it does...
Ear wax is a natural substance produced by glands in your ear canal. It's a mix of secretions, dead skin cells and dust particles, and while that doesn't sound particularly appealing, it serves a genuinely useful purpose. It protects the delicate skin of the ear canal from bacteria, dust and moisture, and keeps the ears lubricated so they don't become dry and itchy.
Your ears actually need it.
Why ears are usually self-cleaning!
In most people, most of the time, earwax doesn't cause any problems at all. The natural movement of your jaw – chewing and talking - gradually moves wax from the eardrum towards the opening of the ear, where it dries up and flakes away on its own. You never notice it happening.
The trouble starts when this process doesn't work as smoothly as it should.
When wax builds up...
Some people naturally produce more wax than others. Hearing aid wearers often find wax builds up more quickly because the aids themselves slow down the natural migration process. Narrow ear canals, older age and using earbuds or in-ear headphones can all contribute too.
When wax builds up and becomes impacted, you might notice muffled or dulled hearing, a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear, earache, tinnitus, or your hearing aids behaving differently than usual.
Please don't use cotton buds
This comes up a lot. Cotton buds don't remove ear wax effectively - they push it further down the canal where it becomes compacted and much harder to shift.
They can also scratch the delicate skin of the ear canal or, in the worst cases, perforate the eardrum.
The same goes for ear candles, which have no clinical evidence behind them and carry a real risk of burns.
If your ears feel blocked, the right approach is to either use softening drops for a few days to see if things clear naturally, or to see a professional for removal. Poking things in your ears rarely ends well.
When to get it seen to
If you're experiencing any of the symptoms above, it's worth getting checked out. A build-up of wax is one of the most common, and most easily fixed causes of reduced hearing. It can also interfere with hearing aid performance in ways that are easy to mistake for a bigger problem.
We offer professional ear wax removal at our Grange-over-Sands and Edinburgh branches, and as part of our home visit service. It's a quick appointment and the difference is usually noticeable straight away.
Book an appointment or get in touch if you'd like to know more.
