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.
Green earwax or earwax with a foul smell is also an indication of an infection. If there is blood in your earwax, this could be a sign of an injury to the ear or a ruptured eardrum. Gray or black earwax usually means there is a buildup of dust in the ear or impacted earwax.
Healthy dry earwax does fall out of the ear better than wet earwax, and it is effective at preventing ear infections. However, it's still important to keep your ears clean because dry earwax flakes can build up over time and cause a blockage.
Black, or dark ear wax is not a cause for concern. It just means that your earwax isn't emptying out as fast as it could be. This can cause some symptoms including hearing loss, but it's not an emergency.
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. The color, texture, and amount of earwax vary naturally from person to person.
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.
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.
Irrigating (gently rinsing) your ear canal can reduce the risk of earwax impaction. It involves using a rubber bulb syringe to squirt water or a saline solution into the ear canal. When the water or solution drains out of the ear, it also flushes out loose ear wax.
Some people under a doctor's care may require regular cleanings, but this is not the case for everyone. More damage can be created by trying to clean or remove ear wax versus just leaving it alone. “The skin in the ear is very thin and even slight trauma from such a device can cause injury,” Brant noted.
Consuming dairy products such as milk, eggs and cheese in high quantities can lead to the excessive production of earwax in your ear canals. This is because dairy foods contain lactose. Dieticians have also noted a link between milk and earwax, but mostly for people who are lactose intolerant.
Earwax removal tips
Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.
Normal earwax colors
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.
Wax can build up and block the ear canal. Wax blockage is one of the most common causes of 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.
Use warm water
Avoid getting too close to the shower head – you don't want water to spray into your ear. In a bath, you can use a wet washcloth by squeezing it and allowing water to drip into your ear canal.
Since the earwax of most Asians is of the dry type, it is extremely easily removed by light scraping with an ear pick, as it simply falls out in large pieces or dry flakes.
East Asians usually have dry earwax, while other populations tend to have the wet type. Researchers discovered that a specific genetic variation in the ABCC11 gene determines which kind of earwax a person has. If someone has the AA genotype, they'll have dry earwax, while GA and GG genotypes lead to wet earwax.
While cotton swabs are the norm in the West, in many parts of East Asia, it's common to use ear scoops – a long, thin tool with one tip flattened into a little spoon – to tease out excess ear wax.
So how do I clean my ears without cotton swabs? A damp, warm cloth can wipe away ear wax from the outer ear canal, and will not drive wax deeper into your ear.
The ear is self-cleaning. No routine maintenance is required. If you're inserting swabs into your ears to remove earwax or prevent its buildup, think again. Earwax is produced within the ear canal and naturally migrates from deeper inside to outside.
Itchy ears can sometimes be a sign of an ear infection. Bacteria and viruses cause them, usually when you have a cold, the flu, or allergies. One kind, swimmer's ear, can happen when water stays in your ear after you swim. Too much moisture wears away your ear canal's natural layer of defense against germs.