Earwax is properly known as cerumen.
Cerumen is normal and is designed to trap things like dirt/dust and acts to protect the lining of the ear. It is also slightly acidic and protects the ear from infection. It is continuously produced and is gradually moved towards the entrance of the ear by the self-cleaning mechanism of the skin and by the action of muscles used in chewing and talking.
The colour, consistency and amount of earwax produced by individuals vary widely. Wax may appear to be dry and flaky, or crumbly consistency, honey coloured or dark brown and very hard when it may become quite firmly attached to the underlying skin.
Some common problems people experience:
- Narrow ear canals – people who work in areas where there is a lot of dust or dirt in the air sometimes finds that this combines with the cerumen in the ear to form a plug.
- Cleaning attempts – Using cotton buds, matchsticks and hair clips to try to clean out the ear canals is one of the most common causes of impacted wax. It causes the wax to be forced down the canal and form a hard dry plug against the eardrum. THE USE OF COTTONWOOL BUDS, MATCHSTICKS, HAIRPINS, PAPER CLIPS ETC TO REMOVE WAX IS NOT ADVISED as they can cause considerable damage to the skin lining of the canal.
- Earplugs – The use of earplugs, often mandatory in some occupations, can have a similar effect to cotton buds.
- Hearing Aid moulds – They can interfere with the natural ability to shed dead skin and wax, and cause debris to build up in the canal.
- Age – Older people may have drier wax, and older men often develop more hair in their ears.
- Habit – Some people become accustomed to attending regularly for ear irrigation, believing it is necessary to prevent them experiencing hearing loss, which is not the case.
What can I do to help?
The use of olive oil has been clinically proven to be safe and an effective treatment for the treatment of ear wax. Drops of olive oil should be instilled twice a day for 14 days prior to irrigation if this is prescribed.
Download the leaflet below with instructions on how olive oil eardrops should be administered/instilled. Do not put cotton wool into your ears, as this will absorb the oil. Although olive oil is recommended, other wax softeners are available, should you wish to purchase them from a Pharmacy.
