Is your ear clogged too? Let's learn everything about ear wax impaction!

Do you sometimes feel like something is stuck in your ear, heavy, or full? Or do you suddenly feel like you have a slight loss of hearing? Many of us think that water has gotten into our ears at times like this. But that is not always the case. Most of the time, this can be caused by an excessive build-up of what we call 'earwax' inside the ear. This is medically known as 'Cerumen Impaction'. Although this may seem like a small thing, it can be very annoying at times. So let's talk about this in detail today.

Is "ear dirt" really a bad thing?

First, let's dispel this misconception. Many people think that "ear wax" is something dirty, something that needs to be removed from the body. But that's not the truth. In medical terms, we call this cerumen . This is something that is naturally produced by small glands in the skin of our ears.

Simply put, this is like a natural shield that protects our ears.

• Ear cleaning: This substance called cerumen travels from inside the ear to the outside. When it does, it comes out with things like dust, dirt, and dead skin cells inside the ear. It's like a special 'cleaning service' for the ear.
• Protects against infections: These contain ingredients that can control microorganisms like bacteria, thus reducing the risk of ear infections.
• Keeps the skin inside the ear moist: This cerumen prevents the skin inside the ear from drying out and becoming itchy.

That means that having a normal amount of earwax is a good thing, not a bad thing. The problem is when too much of it accumulates, becomes hard, and gets stuck inside the ear.

How do you know if you have earwax? What are the symptoms?

When earwax gets stuck, each person may experience different symptoms. Sometimes these symptoms get worse over time. See if you experience any of these symptoms too.

Who is more likely to develop this condition?

Although earwax can affect anyone, some people are at higher risk.

• People who use cotton buds: This is the main reason. Imagine that when you put a cotton bud in your ear, you think you are removing dirt. But what actually happens is that as you get some out, more gets pushed in and becomes stuck. This completely disrupts the natural cleansing process of the ear.
• People who frequently use hearing aids or earplugs/earbuds: These devices prevent earwax from coming out and increase the chance of it getting stuck inside.
• Elderly people: As we age, earwax tends to become dry and hard, making it harder to come out and more likely to get stuck.
• People with excess ear hair: This hair can also interfere with the removal of earwax.
• People with narrow ear canals: People with congenitally narrow ear canals are at higher risk of earwax getting stuck.
• People with skin diseases: People with skin diseases like eczema can also experience excessive shedding of skin cells from the ear, which can become clogged with earwax.

How do you remove earwax from clogged ears?

Okay, now we come to the most important part. How do you remove this? You have to be very careful here because if you do it the wrong way, you can damage your ear.

Things you can do at home (with medical advice)

The doctor might tell you to do something like this.

1. Using cerumenolytic solutions:

• These dissolve the earwax, soften it, and make it easier to come out.
• For example, you can use a few drops of baby oil, glycerin, mineral oil, or olive oil.
• Pharmacies also have ear drops made for this purpose (e.g. ear drops containing hydrogen peroxide).
• How to do it: Tilt your head to one side and keep the blocked ear elevated. Then, put 2-3 drops of oil in the ear and hold it there for about 5-10 minutes. Do this twice a day for a few days and the softened debris will come out on its own.

2. Ear Irrigation:

• This is done using a syringe (without a needle).
• First, as mentioned above, you need to apply oil for a few days to soften the earwax.
• Then, take lukewarm water (not hot or cold) in a syringe and very slowly and gently squirt the water into the ear. When you tilt your head, the dissolved dirt will flow out with the water.
• Warning: This method is not suitable if you have previously had a perforated eardrum or if you frequently get ear infections.

The doctor's treatment

If home remedies don't work, or you're afraid to do so, the best thing to do is see a doctor. He can remove it very safely in a matter of minutes.

• Using special instruments: The doctor looks inside the ear with an instrument called an otoscope and carefully removes the stuck debris with a small spoon-like instrument called a cerumen spoon, forceps, or suction.

Don't make these mistakes when cleaning your ears!

This is the most important thing we all need to know. If you want to avoid damaging your ears, keep these things in mind.

If you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately.

Earwax is usually not an emergency. However, if you have any of the symptoms below, it could be a sign of an infection or other serious condition. So seek medical attention immediately.

• Severe, persistent ear pain
• Fever
• Fluid or pus draining from the ear (Otorrhea)
• Bad odor coming from the ear
• Sudden hearing loss or severe dizziness

In such cases, instead of trying to treat it at home, see a doctor directly. If necessary, he or she will refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT Surgeon).