Chances are, earwax and its buildup haven’t been subjects of extensive contemplation for you, except maybe during ear hygiene routines. Still, it’s crucial to have an understanding of its purpose and how it develops.
What causes the buildup of earwax?
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 consistency and can exhibit shades of orange, yellow, gray, or brown.
In most instances, kids tend to generate more earwax than adults. Moreover, adult earwax is usually darker and harder compared to that of kids.
Earwax gets discharged or washed out after going by the outer ear canal and reaching the opening of the ear.
Why do we need earwax?
Earwax serves several essential functions, such as:
- Fending off possible infections that may occur within the ear canal.
- Safeguarding and moisturizing the skin lining the ear canal, thus preventing dryness and itchiness.
- Acting as a protective barrier against outside irritants including dirt, dust, and other foreign particles before they penetrate deeper into the ear.
Obstructions caused by earwax
Usually, there’s no crucial need to remove earwax from your ears unless it becomes impacted, a prevalent problem associated with earwax. In some cases, earwax is unable to easily get to the opening of the ear due to narrow or unusually shaped ear canals.
Improper ear hygiene methods, like using cotton swabs or bobby pins, can inadvertently push wax deeper into the ear canal.
Earwax obstructions are frequently experienced by people who frequently use earplugs, earbuds, or hearing aids.
How is hearing affected by too much earwax?
The occurrence of earwax blockages might yield mild discomfort and dampen auditory health.
Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, might also happen.
Acoustic trauma might result in long-term hearing loss, perforated eardrums, and long-term hearing loss if earwax blockages go neglected.
Addressing impacted earwax
It’s essential that you contact us as soon as possible if you think your ears may be blocked by earwax. Depending on the extent of the blockage, you might be advised to utilize over-the-counter wax softening drops or a bulb syringe for gentle irrigation to alleviate the condition.
If you’re concerned about your earwax buildup, call us right away to schedule an appointment.