Ear wax is a completely natural substance that all of us have in our ears. Not actually made of real wax, it has an important and useful function in helping protect the ear against excessive dryness, bacteria, foreign objects and bugs, as well as having another purpose when it falls out, carrying dead skin cells and other debris with it.
It only becomes a problem when the levels of wax become excessive, such as when the wax is impacted and stuck in the ear, leading to a persistent build-up. This can impair hearing, cause dizziness and tinnitus and affect balance.
The question is; how can you best treat this? Can you resolve it with some homespun cures? Should you get something from the pharmacist? Or will you need to get your ears syringed?
In the first instance, it is reasonable to go to the chemist and get something like an over-the-counter earwax remover, with a member of staff often on hand to provide advice. Such substances can help dissolve the earwax.
Alternatively, you can use some substances commonly found at home or in the shops such as olive oil, which can soften and loosen the wax.
Often, these are sufficient to resolve the problem. However, it is not always that simple.
Firstly, sometimes, even with the use of effective substances in the ear, you can make things worse. The most common mistake is to use cotton buds in an attempt to scoop or gouge out the wax. Unfortunately, the usual consequence of doing this is the opposite and the wax becomes pressed in and consequently harder to remove.
Other popular but unwise ‘solutions’ include ear candling, where a special hollow, lit candle is used that is supposed to pull out earwax. Medical experts regard it as ineffective and sometimes harmful, with the claims of proponents not supported by the evidence.
People may also sometimes insert other objects into their ears, but this can cause infection and may damage the sensitive inner ear. At worst, it can perforate an eardrum.
Therefore, the first thing you should do when confronted with an ear wax problem is make sure you only use remedies a medical professional would recommend. The second is to respond in the right way if these initial steps do not work.
If your wax problem is very bad, over-the-counter eardrops or olive oil won’t be enough. That is when you should come and see a specialist and get assessed. It may be that syringing is the radical solution you need to clear a very deep blockage.
You may also need to have your ear checked for further damage and assessed in case symptoms associated with excess wax like impaired hearing are persistent, something that may be the case if further damage has been done.
Above all, you should not suffer in silence. Ear wax is a common problem many people face at some point, often frequently. But whether a few drops of olive oil are enough or syringing is required, be kind to yourself by taking the best and safest steps toward tackling the problem.
