You most likely don’t give much thought to earwax accumulation unless you’re in the process of clearing it out. Nonetheless, understanding what causes earwax, how it develops, and its purpose is crucial.
So why does earwax accumulate?
Earwax, also technically called cerumen, is composed of a mix of sweat, skin particles, hair, debris, and ceruminous gland secretions. This earwax presents with a waxy texture and can show shades of orange, yellow, gray, or brown.
In most situations, kids tend to produce more earwax than adults. Children also typically have softer earwax that’s lighter in color than adults.
Earwax gets expelled or washed out after passing the outer ear canal and reaching the opening of the ear.
Why is earwax essential?
Earwax serves several crucial functions, such as:
- Safeguarding and lubricating the skin lining the ear canal, thus preventing dryness and itchiness.
- Acting as a protective barricade against external irritants like dirt, dust, and other foreign particles before they penetrate deeper into the ear.
- Fending off possible infections that might arise within the ear canal.
Obstructions caused by earwax
Typically, there’s no crucial need to remove earwax from your ears unless it becomes impacted, a common issue associated with earwax. Impacted earwax can stem from narrow or unusually shaped ear canals hindering the natural movement of earwax toward the ear’s opening.
Wax can be unintentionally pushed up into the ear canal by utilizing improper cleaning practices like using cotton swabs.
Earwax obstructions are frequently experienced by people who often use earplugs, earbuds, or hearing aids.
How excessive earwax can impact hearing
The occurrence of earwax blockages may yield slight discomfort and impact auditory health.
Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, may also happen.
Neglected earwax obstructions may intensify into middle ear infections, perforated eardrums, or lasting hearing impairment as a result of acoustic trauma.
How do you tackle impacted wax?
If you think you have an earwax blockage, consulting us quickly is imperative. Depending on the extent of the obstruction, you might be advised to use over-the-counter wax softening drops or a bulb syringe for gentle irrigation to alleviate the condition.
Call us right away if you need some help with an earwax obstruction.
