Ear wax, also known as Cerumen, is a soft brownish substance secreted by ceruminous glands in our ear canals within the external ear. These glands present in the skin of the ear canals are modified apocrine glands, like sweat glands in our arm pits or groin areas, that produce sweat and yet another type secretes fat droplets into breast milk. Sebaceous glands, on the other hand, are found in hair follicles and produce sebum, which is an oily substance that helps our skin from drying out. Together both the ceruminous and sebaceous glands contribute in the formation of the ear wax.
As wax is produced in the outer portion of the ear canal, it can lead to problems especially if the wax has managed to go down the ear canal. Production of wax in our ears is a normal process as the wax cleans and protects the ears by catching dust, debris, insects and microbial invasion. It is healthy to have earwax inside of our ear canals and is not a sign of poor hygiene. People often ask whether production of wax is a problem and the most common answer from a health practitioners’ point of view is a ‘No’. However, some of us may produce more wax than others and yet others due to certain lifestyle factors are deemed to have caused an interference in the normal migration of wax, thus leading to impacted wax in our ears. Ear wax impaction is a common condition that occurs when there is a build-up of ear wax in the ear canal and clinicians often find wax and dead skin formation. The following article has some great information about the nature of skin in our ear canals Earwax and Ear Canal Infections | ENT & Allergy of Delaware (entad.org). Impacted ear wax can lead to various symptoms and complications, which can be very debilitating for some. In our experience wax accumulation time can vary, with impaction time varying from between weeks to months, and yet in some cases the build-up has occurred over years where one just learns to live with it and accepts the accompanying symptoms as a norm. Your General Practitioner or a health care practitioner are best suited professionals to diagnose this for you and they will be able to check and confirm if you indeed suffer from impacted wax. This is normally the case when they cannot see your ear drums with their torch light or an otoscope, since the accumulating wax blocks the direct view of the ear drum. There are several methods for managing cerumen impaction, including the use of ear drops, ear irrigation with water, and other tools such as curettes, forceps, and suction devices. Each of these methods and devices have their pros and cons, with some best suited for a condition or symptoms that the person may be presenting or reporting on the day of wax removal. The safety and effectiveness of different methods of earwax removal: a systematic review and economic evaluation – PubMed (nih.gov)
It is important to follow professional advice and choose the appropriate method based on the individual case. Therefore, one must follow the instructions and guidance of a healthcare professional. You may want to carry out your own research into the different methods and check with the healthcare professional on the day if following your chosen method will be most appropriate. Remember, at the end of the day, they are best suited to advise. Book your appointment today at HOME – midlandhearingcentre.co.uk