Hold that Q-Tip! Why Earwax is Healthy for Your Ears

Earwax is Gross! What is it, exactly?

Earwax, that gross, sticky stuff. We all have it, and we’ve all maybe wondered about it. For many of us, earwax is a mystery and often times, we don’t even think about until it becomes a problem.

And that’s exactly what earwax is supposed to do – work as a background bodily function, playing an important role in our auditory process, to keep our ears safe and our hearing healthy.

What exactly is earwax? Earwax is known as cerumen, its medical name, and it is a combination of oil, sweat, dirt, and dead skin cells. Earwax accumulates naturally, and it has three main functions in your hearing and ear health.

As a natural barrier, earwax makes sure that dirt and bacteria does not make its way to your inner ear. Your inner ear environment is a sensitive place, made of tiny hair cells that translate sound vibrations into neural signals to be registered by the brain as sounds we recognize. The stickiness of earwax traps dirt and bacteria before it can make it very far in your ear canal, as fly paper does insects.

Earwax, with its oily base, is also a moisturizer for your ear. It ensures that your outer ear does not get flaky and itchy, which could lead to irritation and infection.

And, if you’ve ever wondered what keeps insects away from your ears when they’re buzzing nearby – it’s earwax! Insects do not like the smell of earwax, and thus, it acts as a natural insect repellent to prevent insects from entering your ear canals.

What Your Earwax Says About You

Earwax differs from person to person, due to many different factors in their environment, age, diet, and lifestyle. There are two types of cerumen – wet and dry. Wet cerumen is commonly found in people of Caucasian and African ethnicities, while dry cerumen is found in populations of Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asians.

Earwax also differs in color. Cerumen ages over time, collecting dirt and debris, and darkening. As such, adults tend to have darker earwax, whether it is dark brown or black. Children, on the other hand, have lighter colored earwax. Generally speaking, light brown, orange, and yellow are colors that indicate healthy earwax. If your earwax is uncommonly dark and is tinged with red, you may have bleeding in your ears. Contact a medical professional as soon as possible to have your ears checked.

How to Clean Your Ears Properly

Hold that Q-tip! Hearing specialists advise against using cotton swabs to remove earwax. In fact, cotton swabs tend to create earwax blockage, by pushing the earwax deeper into your ear canal. Avoid ear candling as well – this is a trend with no medical basis and could cause serious injury to your ears.

If you want to clean your ears, you don’t have to do much other than take a shower. Warm water from your shower will trickle down into your ears, softening the earwax. You may clean your outer ear with a warm, wet cloth. But try not to venture any further in your ear canal!

Your head, neck, and jaw system will naturally expel earwax, from your speaking and chewing motions. Earwax requires no deliberate action on your part – it is a self-cleansing system.

What If There’s Earwax Buildup?

Earwax buildup may occur in certain instances where there is a buildup of earwax. This buildup could cause a stuffiness in your ear and interfere with your hearing abilities. Earwax buildup could be caused by excessive stress or fear, which is linked to the apocrine gland (which also produces sweat). Chronic ear infections or people with certain skin conditions may also find an excess of earwax buildup.

If you find this is the case, contact us at the Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services! We will take a look inside your ear and determine the best course of treatment for you. 

Locations in Mission Viejo, Irvine, San Clemente, Laguna Beach and Laguna Hills

Call us to schedule: 949- 364-4361