The skin of our ear is protected by a waxy oil, which moisturizes the skin of the ear canal and prevents itchy and dry ears. It contains some special chemicals that fight off the ear infections that could damage the skin inside the ear canal. This waxy oil is known as ear wax or cerumen, surprised! Well, yes ear wax is important too, see!
There is no denying the fact that earwax offers multiple health benefits by trapping the dust, protecting the ear canal skin, reducing as well as lining the likelihood of bacterial infection. In fact, if your ears are free from earwax, you may experience sore and dry ears that are more prone to infection. But, if your ear glands produce more earwax than it is required, it may get hard and block the ear. In this situation, if you want to clean your ears, you can push the wax deeper, which may cause a blockage. Wax build up may cause temporary hearing loss.
Causes of earwax buildup:
People often misinterpret that producing too much ear wax can cause the blockage. But it is not the exact reason. In fact, excess wax does not automatically lead to earwax buildup or blockage rather, the most common cause of earwax buildup or blockage is, removing them at home. We often use bobby pins, cotton swabs, or other objects in order to clean our ears, but we end up with pushing the wax deeper and creating a blockage.
Frequent use of earphone can also inadvertently prevent earwax from coming out of the ear, which can also cause the blockage.
The signs and symptoms:
The earwax may be light yellow or darker brown. Generally, darker colors indicate that there is no blockage.
The signs of earwax blockage may include:
- Partial and temporary hearing loss
- Tinnitus or ringing and buzzing in the ear
- Earache
- The feeling that the ear is full
If you don’t remove the earwax build up, you may experience a severe ear infection. Please contact your doctor if you are experiencing the following symptoms of infection –
- Unbearable pain in your ear
- Drainage from your ear
- Severe pain in your ears that do not subside
- Coughing
- Fever with Temporary hearing loss
- Dizziness
- An odor that comes from your ear
Also, note that dizziness, hearing loss, and earache can also be symptoms of several problems. Consult your doctor only when these symptoms are frequent. A full medical evaluation will help you to understand the root of the problem.
Treatment for earwax blockage:
Treatments for earwax removal are generally straightforward. The professionals or doctors can remove earwax with a small spoon, also known as a curette, or through irrigation with a solution of warmed water.
This is strongly recommended that you should not try removing earwax yourself, it should be undertaken by trained professional.
- Softening earwax: In order to remove your excess earwax, you have to soften your earwax. You can use mineral oil, baby oil, hydrogen peroxide, glycerin, carbamide peroxide to soften your earwax.
- Ear irrigation: Ear irrigation is another important way to remove earwax buildup. If you have an ear injury or have had an ear operation, you should never attempt to irrigate your ears. In order to irrigate your ears, you can follow the below steps –
- Sit or stand with your head with an upright position
- Pull your ear upward gently by holding the outside of the ear
- Spray a stream of body-temperature water into your ear with a syringe
- In order to drain the water, tip your head properly
- Consult a doctor:
Last but not the least and the safest option is, consulting a doctor or professional.