According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, as long as the ears are functioning properly, people should not be trying to remove ear wax, and should leave it alone. For the vast majority, ear wax does not cause any problems and there isn't a need to remove it.
If left untreated, excessive earwax may cause earwax impaction symptoms to worsen. These symptoms might include hearing loss, ear irritation, tinnitus and other issues. A buildup of earwax might also make it difficult to see into your ear, which may result in potential issues going undiagnosed.
For some people, a once-a-year visit to the ear care clinic is often sufficient but for many, having ear wax removed every six months may be recommended. If your ears are naturally prone to produce excessive wax then a quarterly appointment is likely to be needed.
Your ears have an effective self-cleaning mechanism, but sometimes, more intensive and precise techniques are required. If you experience pain, your hearing has deteriorated, your earwax looks darker, or your ears feel blocked, don't hesitate to contact a hearing health professional.
If your doctor recommends that you try to remove earwax at home: Soften and loosen the earwax with warm mineral oil. You also can try hydrogen peroxide mixed with an equal amount of room temperature water. Place 2 drops of the fluid, warmed to body temperature, in the ear two times a day for up to 5 days.
You can buy over-the-counter eardrops that break up earwax. The water-based ones contain ingredients such as acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium bicarbonate. Oil-based products lubricate and soften the earwax.
For the vast majority, ear wax does not cause any problems and there isn't a need to remove it. There are actually benefits to having ear wax including a self-cleaning mechanism and some antimicrobial properties.
A few people would say that ear syringing can be dangerous and potentially damage the ear canal if it is not undertaken correctly. However, the main reason it was taken away from GP surgeries is due to the fact it was no longer classified as an essential service. Instead, it was reclassified as a specialist service.
It also does just feel really, really good. That could be because the ear—thought to be an erogenous zone—has a complex system of nerves and nerve endings. “People can have referred sensations from other parts of the body,” says Seth Pross, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
“Too much earwax can cause symptoms ranging from pain to hearing loss or even a reflex cough,” Boozer says. “Ringing in the ear, itching and dizziness can also occur.” Hearing trouble may continue to get worse as time goes on. You might also notice a full or plugged up feeling in the ear, or even an odor.
If excess earwax needs to be removed, it's imperative to see a specialist. Otherwise, ear damage can result. At-home earwax removal can contribute to impacted earwax, which can cause serious ear problems.
When too much earwax builds up (gets impacted), it can cause symptoms such as temporary hearing loss. It is more common in older adults. Certain health conditions make it more likely to have impacted earwax. You might need special drops to help remove your earwax.
Here's what not to do.
Don't stick things into your ear canal, no matter how tempting this idea may be. Cotton swabs, ear candles, and small objects like tweezers or bobby pins don't belong in the ear canal, and they can actually do more harm than good.
Dark brown or black colored earwax is typically older, so its color comes from the dirt and bacteria it has trapped. Adults tend to have darker, harder earwax. Dark brown earwax that is tinged with red may signal a bleeding injury. Light brown, orange or yellow earwax is healthy and normal.
To do this, just gently massage the outside of the ear using circular movements. That way, the impaction will soften, which can help the earwax drain more easily. Once you've finished making these circular movements, pull your ear slightly backwards, from the lobe to the top of the auricle.
This can happen for brief periods during air travel, but also due to allergies, sinus or ear infections, or other respiratory viruses (including COVID-19). Sudden onset of muffled hearing in one ear may signal an urgent problem requiring prompt treatment to prevent or reduce possible hearing loss.
Earwax is a protective substance that most people make. Excessive earwax may be caused by the shape of an individual's ear, ear trauma, scar tissue, water buildup, improper removal methods, and high amounts of ear hair. Older individuals are also more likely to have higher amounts of earwax.
You don't seem to have any.
If your earwax pulls a vanishing act—like, you don't seem to make it any more—there's a very small chance you have a rare and not-well-understood condition called "keratitis obturans," Comer says.
Due to this, you shouldn't attempt to dislodge anything from your ear canal or remove earwax yourself. Digging in your ear can certainly cause damage, which may put you at risk for a range of hearing-related issues.
If you push cotton swabs, pencils, your finger or other objects in your ear canal to try to remove wax, the force can push the wax further into the ear and compress it against the eardrum. Ear wax blockage, also called cerumen impaction, is a common cause of temporary hearing loss.
You can use warm water in the shower to do this. Tilt your head to one side and run some water in your ear canal, then tilt in the opposite direction so the water flows out. Avoid getting too close to the shower head – you don't want water to spray into your ear.
Your health care provider can remove excess wax by using a small, curved tool called a curet or by using suction techniques. Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide.