Your body will produce three pounds of earwax in a lifetime. That’s enough earwax to sculpt an averaged sized chihuahua. Other than being an obscure jelly bean flavor or the thing single-handedly responsible for the continuous struggle of keeping earbuds clean, earwax is something that most of us don’t pay much attention to. But if it were gone, you would definitely notice.
Earwax serves a number of functions for the ear, including lubricating, antibacterial, and protective functions. It prevents dust, dirt, and bacteria from entering and damaging the ear. Earwax also protects your ears from damage when water enters them. It works similarly to tears in your eyes by lubricating your eardrum, preventing dryness and itchiness.
Woman cleans ear of earwax.
Image source: AnthonyRosenberg
There are two types of earwax: wet and dry. The type you have depends on your genetics. Most people of Asian or Native American descent have dry ear wax, while most Whites, Blacks, and people of other ethnicities, typically have wet ear wax.
Earwax is produced by the hair follicles and glands in the outer part of your ear canal. The ear canal separates your outer ear, the ear we all know and love, and the inside of your ear, which is the area only Q-Tips and occasional fingers venture into. Earwax is made up of oils, old skin cells from the inner ear, and any other debris like dust or dirt that may enter the ear.
The ear is self-cleaning; there is a movement of old earwax from the eardrum to the ear opening all the time. Every time you move your jaw, like when you eat, you’re assisting in this process.
With most people, the ears produce just the right amount of earwax. But in some cases, earwax may start to build up and cause problems, such as interfering with hearing, earaches, or other irritations. In these situations, you should have the excess earwax removed.
WAIT! Before you reach for that Q-Tip, there are some things you must know. A number of sources have concluded that under ideal conditions, the eardrum should never be cleaned. Often, a wax blockage is caused by cotton swabs, fingers, and anything else you thought was a good idea to stick in your ear. All these things just push the wax deeper into your ear, causing the build up.
To clean the outside of your ears, a damp wash cloth will do the trick. However, for the inside of your ear, it is recommended that you simply use a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil, or over-the-counter drops to loosen the earwax for a few days. Then, you may use a rubber-bulb syringe filled with warm water to gently flush out the ear wax.
If these home solutions aren’t effective, go see a doctor who can wash or even vacuum the earwax out. Ear blockage is one of the most common ear problems that doctors diagnose. So next time you think about sticking something in your ears, just remember—don’t.
