What You Should Know About Too Much Earwax

Earwax, a natural secretion of the body, serves the crucial role of protection the ear canal and eardrum. It acts not only as a protective barrier but also as a lubricant, effectively preventing the entry of dust and other particles. Ordinarily, earwax migrates from the inner ear to the external ear, where it is naturally washed away. Nevertheless, there are instances when an excessive accumulation of earwax can occur, leading to potential issues and complications. If you think you have too much earwax, then it’s recommended to get in touch with an audiologist that offers an ear-cleaning service, rather than trying to do it yourself at home.

Reasons For Excessive Earwax

There are many causes of excessive earwax. Some people just naturally produce too much because of the workings of their ears. Older people are also more likely to have too much earwax since wax tends to become drier as we age. The number one cause of excessive earwax, however, is people trying to remove the wax themselves. Pushing a foreign object into your ear may remove some wax, but it also increases the chances that you’ll push wax further into your ear.

Impacted Earwax

Earwax is a natural substance that serves a protective role in shielding the ear canal and inner ear from infections and water damage. Ordinarily, the right amount of wax is present to maintain ear health, moving towards the ear canal’s opening and eventually falling out. However, an excess of earwax can lead to issues such as hearing loss, ringing in the ears, itching, fullness and pain. The accumulation of too much earwax can block the ear canal, causing difficulties in hearing and potential discomfort. If left unaddressed, excessive earwax can harden and become impacted, posing risks of infection, hearing loss, and damage to the eardrum. Seeking timely removal and proper care is crucial to prevent these severe complications.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is ringing in the ears. If you have tinnitus, then you’ll likely find that this symptom of an underlying condition can become worse when you have too much earwax. This usually follows earwax-related hearing loss.

Itching

If you notice that your ears are beginning to itch, then it’s possible that you have too much earwax. The pressure caused by excessive earwax can result in discomfort that makes your ears feel itchy. It can be tempting to try to scratch this itch by yourself, but that’s not recommended, since there’s a chance that you’ll damage the inner workings of your ear.

Removing Earwax

One treatment option available for removing excess earwax is the use of eardrops. Designed to soften earwax and facilitate its natural drainage. In cases where these approaches are not successful, it is advisable to seek help from an audiologist who possesses specialized instruments. Safe methods like irrigation can be done by an audiologist for effective earwax removal. It is crucial to steer clear of attempting earwax removal with sharp or cotton swabs to clean out your ear, as this can lead to harm to the delicate tissues of the ear canal. Seeking professional assistance ensures a secure and efficient approach to managing earwax concerns.