Below is a general guide to help you learn more about earwax ( also known as cerumen ). While this does not cover all aspects of earwax, it should answer most of
common questions. If you have further questions, feel free to contact
Discount Valley Customer Service Department. We would be glad to assist in any way we can.What is earwax?
Glands make earwax (also called cerumen) in
outer part of
ear canal. Earwax is made by your body to help your ear stay healthy. The purpose of this sticky substance is to act as a shield to prevent dust, dirt and other materials from entering your ear canal. Earwax also helps to maintain
ear canal's balance of acid and protects
ears from various infections.
A popular myth about cerumen is that it is a sign of poor hygiene. This couldn’t be farther from
truth! It is not only normal to have earwax inside
ear canal, it is essential for proper ear health. Your ears constantly clean themselves by slowly moving earwax and debris out of
ear canal opening. Most of
time, you will be unaware of this cleaning process.
Can earwax become a problem?
Fresh earwax is soft and yellow. Older earwax is brown or black and may even look like blood. The wax may also be dry, white, and flaky. If you have
darker kind, or it looks like blood, you may want to see a specialist to make sure it isn't a more complicated problem.
Too much earwax in
ear can cause an uncomfortable sensation. If excess earwax gathers in
ear canal, it can act like an earplug; blocking sound vibrations entering
ear and causing a slight hearing loss.
What causes excess earwax buildup?
No one knows for sure why some people have problems with earwax and others don't. Older adults tend to have more problems than younger adults. People with coarse wiry hairs in
ears seem to have greater difficulty. This occurs more often in older men.
Some people may have
problem in only one ear, others with both or neither ear. If you use a hearing aid, you should pay special attention to excess buildup of earwax. The ear mold of a hearing aid can act like a dam, preventing
wax from moving freely out of your ear canal.
Your ear can also get impacted (plugged up) with earwax if you use objects to clean
ear canal. An object may push earwax deeper into
ear canal and compact it. The compacted earwax will then harden and could cause a sudden loss of hearing or ear pain.