What is ear wax?
The short version - all you really need to know?
Earwax is not actually wax. It gets its name from the waxy consistency. It's produced inside the ear. It's made of a number ingredients including skin cells. It is essential to ear health as it both lubricates and protects the ear but also removes dirt and dust carrying it along with it as it naturally works it's way out of the ear.
The long version?
Earwax or cerumen is created by two types of glands in your ear canal. Firstly, Sebaceous glands attached to hair follicles inside your ears, release an oily substance called sebum. It's Sebum that lubricates your skin and keeps your ears from drying out. Secondly, modified sweat glands called Ceruminous glands release peptides and antimicrobial proteins that protect your ears. Earwax is though mostly sebum, dead skin cells and hair combined with a number of other different substances, including keratin, cholesterol, fatty acids, squalene, wax easters and alcohol easters.
The resulting cocktail of substances acts as a waterproof lining for your ear canal, carries dead skin cells and other debris out of your ears, traps dirt and dust, prevents your ears from drying out and protects against bacterial and fungal infections.
Earwax can further be thought of as wet or dry. Which type you have depends on your genetics. More specifically, it depends on which variant of a specific gene you have. People with one variant typically have wet earwax. This is most common among people of European and African descent. People with another variant usually have dry, flaky earwax. This is most common among people of East Asian descent.
What causes ear wax blockage?
Causes
Our ears are generally self-cleaning so small amounts of wax will work their way out of the ear naturally. However, a build up of excess wax can occasionally occur, meaning professional ear wax removal is necessary.
Excess earwax build-up can happen due to things like;
Prolonged use of earphones or earplugs
Self-cleaning of the ears with cotton buds or other unsafe implements
Narrow or damaged ear canals
Excessive hair in the ear canals.
Natural excessive earwax production
Natural production of hard or dry earwax
You are not alone
In the UK, it is estimated that 2.3 million people each year have problems with earwax that are significant enough to warrant intervention (NICE, 2021).
Approx 4.6 million ears that will need ear wax removal each year in the UK.
Ear wax removal removed from NHS GP commissioning in 2017.
How do I know if I need earwax removal?
There may be times when you develop excessive earwax. Left untreated, excessive earwax can become impacted, resulting in a blockage.
Symptoms of earwax blockage
The most common symptoms of earwax blockage include:
Earache.
Tinnitus (ringing in your ear).
A feeling of fullness in your ear.
Itchiness.
A foul odour coming from your ear.
Dizziness.
A cough.
Partial hearing loss that may get worse over time.
Do I really need to use olive oil in my ears before my wax removal appointment?
We see the best results when patients have used olive oil spray before their ear wax removal appointment.
Please make sure olive oil is used in the dose of three sprays in each ear, three times a day for three days leading up to your appointment. The oil helps to soften the wax significantly. Its use as directed makes wax removal far easier, quicker and less likely to cause discomfort.
Earol is the recommended olive oil spray and has the added benefit of coming with a cone shaped applicator that makes use easy and far less messy than with the old fashioned bottles equipt with the pipet style dropper.
Please do not put drops in your ear if you have a perforation of the ear drum, if you have a known ear infection or dermatitis within the ear canal. In addition do not use if you have a hearing aid as the oil will cause damage to the device.
Please be careful to make sure you buy the pure OIL spray.
We do not recomend the use of products containing Hydrogen Peroxide or the water based products containing Sodium Bicarbonate.
Will my ears be completely free of wax after my appointment?
There may be small pieces of wax left in your ear canal once the main wax blockage has been removed. You need some wax in your ears to protect and lubricate, the small remaining amount is completely healthy and normal. In fact, one of the reasons we will advise you to keep your ears dry and use earplugs after treatment, particularly after warm water irrigation, is to allow normal earwax build up.