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.
Clearing ear wax is no longer on the list of services that Clinical Commissioning Groups will pay for and therefore GP practices stopped providing ear wax removal. Some large organisations such as Boots began to offer ear wax removal services but have now also decided to stop providing the service as well.
Doing so raises the risk of infection or permanently damaging eardrums and hearing. Regular bathing should be enough to keep earwax at normal levels. The waxy substance (called cerumen) that the ears make provides a coating for the skin lining the ear canal.
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.
You can prevent infection, improve your hearing and generally feel healthier with a professional ear cleaning. They can also assess your overall ear health and recommend any tips or maintenance practices to help you avoid impactions in the future.
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.
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.
There's no way to know if you have too much earwax without having someone, usually your health care provider, look in your ears. Having signs and symptoms, such as earache or hearing loss, doesn't always mean you have wax buildup. You may have another health condition that needs attention.
Putting anything in your ears has the potential to cause damage, which could affect your short or long-term hearing function. Due to this, you shouldn't attempt to dislodge anything from your ear canal or remove earwax yourself.
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.
A: Ear wax production is often triggered by what hearing health care professionals call a contact stimulus. Objects like headphones, earbuds and even hearing aids that contact and rub the ears are the biggest culprits. By producing more earwax, your ears are trying to protect themselves from irritation or infection.
The doctor will usually recommend microsuction: A special microscope will be used to get a clear view inside your ear during the procedure. Microsuction instruments will use a gentle vacuum to suck wax and other material out. It can feel a bit uncomfortable and you will be able to hear the suction in your ear.
The short answer is that it is unlikely. While it is true that our ears are self-cleaning, and wax should be carried out of the ear canal naturally, if your ear wax has built up to the point that it is symptomatic, and impacted, you may need a little more help.
Waxsol is an effective water-based solution used to treat the build up of ear wax. The active ingredient, docusate sodium, softens and breaks up ear wax that has become hard, making it easier to remove.
If wax touches the ear drum, it can be painful and cause muffled hearing. There are many products on the market to remove wax using oils, solutions, syringes, ear vacuums and candles. These may seem to help in some instances, but can also cause bigger problems like damaging the ear canal or eardrum.
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.
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.
Just two applications may be enough to soften and safely remove the ear wax, without the need for ear syringing. WAXSOL can be administered to one ear or both ears at once if needed. Stop using WAXSOL if pain, irritation, or inflammation occurs, and speak to your healthcare professional.
The pain, discomfort, and safety of removal depend upon the method that is used to remove the wax. For most, earwax removal is similar to getting your teeth cleaned. You know it's happening but it doesn't hurt. There are many options for the removal of earwax.
Most people don't need to clean their ears
Washing your hair is usually enough to remove the wax on your ear's surface. During a shower, a small amount of warm water enters the ear canal and loosens any wax accumulated there. Use a damp washcloth to wipe away any wax outside your ear canal.
People resort to many different ear cleaning techniques at home; they might use cotton swabs, toothpicks, toilet paper, and even their fingers to clean out the canal. Not only are these methods improper and, at times, unsanitary, but more than anything, they are unsafe.