Over-the-counter earwax removal kits use liquid formulas that can be dropped into the ear to soften the earwax. Medical professionals recommend using a soft, clean cloth to clean the outer parts of your ear. Ear candles put you at risk of burns – both from the flame and wax – and of damaging your ear canals and ear drums. While ear candles are a popular alternative medicine product advertised to remove earwax naturally, they are in fact ineffective and could be dangerous. In turn, this could lead to bigger ear health issues, such as the buildup of bacteria and fungi or the accidental rupture of an eardrum.ĭo not use ear candles to remove your earwax. Using cotton swabs actually pushes earwax deeper into the ear canal, making it more difficult for your ears to self-regulate and expel earwax. It is important to note that there are only a few home remedies recommended by medical professionals for safe earwax removal.ĭo not use cotton swabs to remove earwax. However, there are instances in which earwax removal is necessary.
In other words, it is generally unnecessary to do any work to remove earwax. With the natural processes of talking or chewing, the movement of the jaw loosens earwax and it is expelled naturally. While it has become a popular practice to “remove” earwax with cotton swabs, the reality is that earwax is self-regulating. Earwax could also signal an injury – if you find traces of blood in your earwax, it is important to seek medical attention. Wet earwax is most commonly found in Caucasian and African populations, while dry earwax is found amongst Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asian populations.Įarwax is lighter in color when we are younger, and as we age, it tends to grow darker in color as it traps more bacteria and dirt. Earwax is produced and regulated by the apocrine glands, which also regulate our perspiration. The production and eradication of earwax happens naturally. As a water-repellent substance, earwax manages the moisture levels in our ears – it prevents too much water from entering our inner ear, which in effect helps prevent ear infections. Earwax also provides bacterial prevention and lubrication within the ear. We all know what earwax looks and feels like, but what is it, exactly? Our bodies naturally produce cerumen, the medical term for earwax, to protect our ears from dirt, dust, and debris – even small insects! The stickiness of cerumen actually traps debris from our external environment and prevents it from entering our inner ear.
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