Chances are, earwax and its buildup haven’t been subjects of significant consideration for you, except perhaps during ear hygiene routines. Still, it’s crucial to have an understanding of its purpose and how it develops.
What causes the buildup of earwax?
Earwax, also technically called cerumen, is composed of a mix of sweat, skin particles, hair, debris, and ceruminous gland secretions. Earwax will appear as a waxy substance that will typically be yellow, orange, brown, or even grey.
In most circumstances, children tend to produce more earwax than adults. Kids also normally have softer earwax that’s lighter in color than adults.
Earwax gets discharged or washed out after going by the outer ear canal and reaching the opening of the ear.
Why do we need earwax?
Earwax serves several essential functions, such as:
- Fending off potential infections that may occur within the ear canal.
- Before things like dust, dirt, or other outside debris go further up into the ear canal, earwax acts as a barrier.
- Protecting and moisturizing the skin lining the ear canal, thereby preventing dryness and itchiness.
Blockages caused by earwax
Usually, there’s no critical need to clean out earwax from your ears unless it becomes impacted, a common problem linked to earwax. Impacted earwax can stem from narrow or abnormally shaped ear canals hindering the natural movement of earwax toward the ear’s periphery.
Improper ear hygiene practices, such as using cotton swabs or bobby pins, can inadvertently push wax deeper into the ear canal.
Earwax blockages are often experienced by individuals who frequently use earplugs, earbuds, or hearing aids.
How is hearing affected by too much earwax?
The presence of earwax blockages might yield slight discomfort and impact auditory health.
Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, could also occur.
Acoustic trauma may lead to long-term hearing impairment, perforated eardrums, and long-term hearing loss if earwax obstructions go ignored.
How do you deal with impacted wax?
It’s essential that you get in touch with us as soon as you can if you think your ears may be blocked by earwax. Depending on the severity of the obstruction, you may be advised to use over-the-counter wax softening drops or a bulb syringe for delicate irrigation to alleviate the condition.
If you’re worried about your earwax buildup, call us today to schedule an appointment.