Does your ear feel blocked? Let's learn about earwax (Cerumen Impaction)

Have you ever felt a heaviness in your ear, a feeling of not being able to hear properly, as if water had gotten into your ear? Or have you ever felt a slight itching or pain as if something was stuck inside your ear? These are questions we hear all the time. Most of the time, the cause of this is earwax blockage. So today, let's talk about this in detail.

First, let's see, what is earwax (Cerumen)?

Many people think that earwax is just a dirty, dirty thing. But that's actually a misconception. Earwax is a safe substance that our bodies naturally produce inside our ears. To be precise, it's an oily substance secreted by glands inside our ears.

This has several main functions:

• Ear cleaning: Dust and dirt that enter the ear get stuck in this ear wax. Then, when we talk or eat, as our jaws move, this old ear wax is pushed out of the ear. It's like our own 'cleaning system'.
• Providing protection: This earwax protects the skin of the ear from water, bacteria, fungi, and even small insects that enter the ear.
• Moisture retention: This ear wax prevents the skin inside the ear from drying out and becoming itchy.

Simply put, earwax is essential for the health of our ears.

So, why is this a problem? (Cerumen Impaction)

As good as earwax is, sometimes it can build up too much, become hard, and become completely blocked inside the ear. In medical terms, we call this condition cerumen impaction .

This is when the aforementioned symptoms of ear pain and hearing loss begin to appear. This condition usually affects about 10% of children and 5% of adults.

What are the symptoms of earwax blockage?

See if you have any of these symptoms. You may have one or more of them together.

Who is more likely to develop this condition?

Although earwax buildup can happen to anyone, some people are at a higher risk.

• People who frequently use hearing aids, earplugs, or earbuds: These block the natural drainage of earwax.
• People with a lot of hair inside their ears: This hair prevents earwax from coming out.
• People who put things like cotton buds in their ears: This is the main reason. We will talk about this in detail later.
• People over 55 years old: As we age, earwax becomes a bit drier and more brittle.
• People with skin diseases (e.g. eczema).
• People who are born with a narrow or abnormally shaped ear canal.

How do you remove stuck earwax?

Okay, now let's see what the solutions are. There are things you can do at home, and there are things you need to see a doctor about. But remember, it's always best to talk to your doctor before doing anything.

Most importantly: How to clean your ears properly

All you have to do is:

1. When bathing, clean only the outer side of the ear with a cloth or your finger.

2. After bathing, dry the outer side of the ear thoroughly with a towel.

Cerumenolytic solutions

There are some liquids that can be used to soften earwax that is stuck or hardened. Rather than dissolving the earwax, these soften it and make it easier to come out.

• Baby oil
• Mineral oil
• Glycerin
• Saline solution
• Ear drops containing hydrogen peroxide can be purchased from pharmacies.

How to use:

Put a few drops of this liquid in the blocked ear, turn your head to the other side, and wait a few minutes. The liquid will then penetrate the ear and soften the earwax. If you do this for a few days, the blocked piece may come out on its own.

Getting it removed by a doctor

If home remedies don't work, or if your symptoms are severe, be sure to see a doctor. Your doctor has several safe ways to remove it.

• Using special instruments: The doctor will use an otoscope to look inside the ear to locate the exact location of the blockage. Then, using special instruments such as a cerumen spoon and forceps, the blocked piece is carefully removed.
• Ear irrigation/syringing: Using a special syringe, water or saline solution at body temperature is injected into the ear to wash out and loosen stuck earwax.
• Suction: A small suction device is used to remove earwax.

These methods are usually painless and can be completed in a few minutes.

The question everyone asks: Is it okay to use cotton buds?

This is something we all need to remember. Cotton buds are not meant to clean ears!

Imagine pushing something like a gun cleaning ramrod into your ear. What happens? The earwax that should be coming out gets pushed further in, clumps together, and becomes stuck. It's like pushing dirt down a drain and getting stuck.

There are several possible harms from this:

• The earwax gets deeper and gets stuck.
• The very delicate skin of the ear can be injured.
• It is possible to accidentally pierce your eardrum , which could even permanently damage your hearing.
• When you stimulate the inside of your ear, you're sending a signal to the glands in your ear to "make more earwax." That means you're making the problem worse.

When should I definitely see a doctor?

If you have general symptoms, you can see a doctor for advice. However, if you have any of the symptoms below, you should seek medical advice immediately .