Excessive earwax is a very common problem but also a distressing one. However, many, if not most, people try to deal with it in the wrong way, when it makes sense to use professional earwax removal services to get it dealt with properly.
The first thing to understand about earwax is that it is not actually wax at all, but a substance called cerumen.
Made from a mix of secreted material, sweat and dead skin cells, it is actually beneficial to your ear’s health because it fights bacteria and traps debris that could otherwise get into the inner ear and cause damage.
Normally, what happens next is that the cerumen dries out and falls out of your ear, ensuring there is no excessive build-up.
What Causes Ear Wax To Build Up?
Unfortunately, there are times when the earwax does build up to excessive levels. Causes include:
- Some people naturally produce too much earwax
- Wearing earphones or earplugs can prevent earwax from escaping
- Ear infections can also contribute, although this is not the main cause
The big problem arises when trying to deal with the wax, because this is when many people make mistakes using common ‘solutions’ that are counter-productive.
What Methods Of Tackling Earwax Are Counterproductive?
Using cotton wool buds is the most common error. It is easy to think that you can just poke it in, capture a load of earwax and scoop it out. However, for every bit that you can get out this way, there is more that you are pushing deeper into the ear, making the blockage worse.
This also applies to using any other object in your ear to try to scoop out wax, with the additional danger that harder objects may cause damage to the ear.
Another idea is to use ear candles to clear out earwax. The theory is that by placing a lit, cone-shaped candle in the ear, it will draw earwax up and out, helping to clear it. Candling is also supposed to bring other health benefits, such as supposedly curing headaches and flu.
However, there is no evidence that this works to clear earwax blockages at all. Worse still, it is dangerous, because it can lead to a burst eardrum or burns to the inner ear.
Therefore, you can do far more harm than good by seeking to use these methods to treat earwax.
How Can You Remove Earwax Effectively?
Instead, there are some much more effective means of dealing with the problem.
- Firstly, there is the use of wax-softening drops or olive oil, which can break up deposits of hardened wax that are causing a blockage and help to lubricate the exit path.
- Hydrogen peroxide can be used to break up earwax
- Baking soda mixed with water can also help to dissolve it
These can all prove very effective, but beyond this is ear irrigation, which uses a syringe and a warm water solution.
Most people do not have the skills or equipment to do this, but we do. With such work, you can get complete relief from your earwax, instead of suffering an injury or an even worse earwax problem by trying a DIY solution at home that simply won’t work.