The answer is partly in your heritage. A new study reveals that the gene responsible for the drier type originated in an ancient northeastern Asian population. Today, 80 to 95 percent of East Asians have dry earwax, whereas the wet variety is abundant in people of African and European ancestry (97 to 100 percent).
Two types of earwax
There are two primary types of earwax—wet and dry: Wet cerumen is more common in Caucasians and Africans. Dry cerumen is more common among Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Asians.
More specifically, it depends on which variant of the ABCC11 gene you have. Wet earwax: People with the dominant variant typically have wet earwax. This is most common among people of European and African descent. Dry earwax: People with the recessive variant usually have dry, flaky earwax.
In other words, it's not really all that wet – although it's possible that your earwax can become watery after swimming or a shower. But if you have watery fluids coming out of your ear, it can be a sign of an ear infection or another problem, and you should make an appointment with your primary care doctor.
Wet, pale yellow or white earwax could indicate that there is pus in your ear canal. This pale discharge is a warning signal from your immune system that you need to consult a doctor. Pus in the ear is often a symptom of an ear infection.
Earwax comes in two types, wet and dry. The wet form predominates in Africa and Europe, where 97 percent or more of the people have it, and the dry form among East Asians, while populations of Southern and Central Asia are roughly half and half.
Earwax is most often amber orange to light brown, wet, and sticky. For some people, it is drier and lighter in color, closer to off white or yellow. In general, the color has a bit to do with the age of the earwax. Newer earwax tends to be lighter in color, and it darkens as it ages and picks up more debris.
Dry earwax, typical in East Asians and Native Americans, is light-colored and flaky, while earwax found in Caucasian and African groups is darker, wetter and, a new study shows, smellier.
Your ears feel wet because they are making more wax. It really is that simple. Ear wax (properly referred to as cerumen) is a sticky substance that serves as a skin conditioner, dust catcher, insect repellent, and has pretty impressive anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
Dry earwax is flaky and light-colored compared to wet earwax, which is dark-colored and sticky. kary_mullis, your genetics make you more likely to have wet earwax. Of 23andMe research participants with genetics like yours: 91% have wet, sticky earwax. 9% have dry, flaky earwax.
Earwax genetics can explain why you have a certain earwax type. One significant marker in the ABCC11 gene seems to determine whether you have wet or dry earwax. There are two versions of the gene: one codes for wet earwax, and the other codes for dry.
The genotype for wet earwax is completely dominant over dry earwax, meaning that even having a single copy of the wet earwax will lock you in for wet earwax. Interestingly, while most ethnically African and European populations have the wet type, East Asians mostly have dry earwax.
Although there is some controversy on the subject of "racial" variation in body odor, it is determined that African blacks probably produce the greatest amount of apocrine sweat, which is the known substrate for axillary odor.
While only 2 percent of Europeans lack the genes for smelly armpits, most East Asians and almost all Koreans lack this gene, Day told LiveScience.
Anyone who's accidentally tasted ear wax knows it has an awful, sour flavor. Otolaryngologist Dr. Seth Schwartz told INSIDER that ear wax tends to be acidic. We know acidic foods also taste sour, so ear wax's distinct flavor makes sense.
It's wet, brown and gummy in nearly all people of European and African origin; but more than 80% of East Asians have a dry variety that lacks a waxy substance called cerumen. A team of Japanese researchers has now tackled this sticky subject and identified the gene that determines earwax type.
Recently, genetic variants of ABCC4 (OMIM: 605250) and ABCC11 (OMIM: 607040), which are particularly common in the Japanese population, were suggested as possible genetic susceptibility factors for the development of SMON.
ABCC11: the “no body odor gene”
Genetic variants that cause a loss of function of the ABCC11 gene are very common among East Asian ethnicities (80-90% of the population). In other population groups, it is rare to have no body odor.
Earwax can range in color from off-white to black. For most, the earwax you see is an amber orange to light brown and is a wet and sticky consistency. The color of earwax is usually related to its age; the lighter in color the newer the earwax. This is also true with the texture; the dryer the earwax, the older it is.
Earwax: Earwax may have an odor due to a chemical in it that repels insects. Some people have more of this chemical in their wax than others. Dead skin cells and bacteria in the wax may also cause a smell. Cancer of the Ear: This is rare but may cause a bad odor to come from the ear.
Researchers identified a gene that alters the shape of a channel that controls the flow of molecules that directly affect earwax type. They found that many East Asians have a mutation in this gene that prevents cerumen, the molecule that makes earwax wet, from entering the mix.
This variation in the DNA turns out to have effects on the liver, pancreas, kidneys, placenta, breast tissue, gut, glands in your ear canal, and wait for it, sweat glands in your skin — and that includes your armpits. And yes, the genetics tells us that humans with wet earwax will sweat more from their armpits.
Frequent washing, however, can do more harm than good because it strips the ear of this delicate, protective lining, leaving the way open for bacteria to get in and multiply. Experts, recommend that you only clean your ears every two to four weeks.
Wet Earwax
This type of wax is sticky and has more lipids than dry wax. The color of this type of wax ranges in color from yellow to a darker brown. Typically, the older the wax is, the darker the color. Wet earwax tends to be easier to move with softening agents and is usually more likely to move out on its own.