Ear, Nose & Throat What You Need to Know About Earwax By Kristin Hayes, RN facebook twitter Kristin Hayes, RN, is a registered nurse specializing in ear, nose, and throat disorders for both adults and children. Learn about our editorial process Kristin Hayes, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on July 02, 2020 twitter linkedin John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board John Carew, MD Updated on July 07, 2020 Print Earwax, also called cerumen, is a substance that is formed from secretions of the glands (sebaceous and ceruminous) found in the ear canal. Secretions from these glands mix with sloughed-off skin, normal skin bacteria, trapped water, and occasionally hair within the ear canal to form what we commonly call earwax. sturt / Getty Images Types Earwax is a hydrophobic (repels water), protective substance. Based on your genetics, you may make one of two different types of earwwax: Wet: Ear wax with a higher proportion of lipids found in Caucasian and African populations.Dry: Ear wax with a lower proportion of lipids found in East Asian populations. Function Ear wax has been shown to have protective benefits to the outer ear canal. Because earwax is hydrophobic it can protect the ear from the negative effects of trapped water. Earwax also has potential antibacterial and antifungal properties and a healthy amount of earwax may decrease your risk for ear infections like otitis externa. However, despite its benefits, too much of a good thing can lead to problems. Causes of Excess Ear Wax Under normal circumstances, the body has a method of removing earwax and sloughed skin through the movements of the jawbone during activities like chewing or talking. Jaw movement causes the ear wax to move from your eardrum towards your outer ear. Also, the skin of the ear canal tends to migrate from the depths of the ear canal to the more outer parts of the ear canal as it exfoliates acting somewhat like a conveyor belt to push the wax out. About 6 out of 100 people accumulate excess earwax. However, the risk is higher in children, older adults, people with small or narrow ear canals, people with excessive hair at the entrance of the ear canal, and people with cognitive impairments. Reasons for the excessive accumulation of ear wax include: Lack of ear wax and sloughed skin migration: Can be the result of the normal aging process; can also be caused inappropriate ear wax removal methodsNarrowing: Can be affected by the shape of an individual's ear canal, soft tissue narrowing (from multiple and/or severe infections of the ear canal), or increased amounts of hair in the ear canal.Obstruction: Bone (congenital or traumatic causes), skin sloughing, or soft tissueOverproduction: Trauma, trapped water, and other unknown causes Also, common objects used in the ears can also lead to an earwax obstruction. Items such as hearing aids, music earbuds, and earplugs (noise-reducing or for swimming) hinder the natural migration of earwax. Excess Earwax Symptoms Too much earwax in the ear canal or an earwax blockage can cause the following symptoms: Reflexive coughEaracheHearing lossFeeling like your ears are “plugged”itchiness in the ear (can be a sign of infection or irritation) Associated Conditions Additionally, an inappropriate level of earwax can be associated with the following conditions: Ceruminosis: Too much earwax in the elderly related to breakdown of the natural migration of earwax out of the ear canalOtitis externa: Earwax helps prevent common bacterial sources of swimmer’s earTinnitus: Ringing in the ears Removing Excess Earwax There are several methods that can be used to remove earwax. However, if you have any of the symptoms described above you should consult a physician such as an otolaryngologist or an otologist. Common methods for home ear wax removal can actually damage your ears or push the ear wax deeper into your ear canal. Methods to avoid include: Ear candlingQ-Tips or inserting other objects into your earCerumenolytics (solutions that break down ear wax or cerumen) if you have damage to your tympanic membrane or surgically placed ventilation tubes Earwax should only be removed if you have symptoms or discomfort. The three recommended methods of earwax removal by a trained professional include: Cerumenolytic agentsIrrigationManual removal: Preferred method if performed by an otolaryngologist with expertise as it can reduce the risk of damage to the ear canal or eardrum. Risks of Removal While removal of ear wax from a trained professional is relatively safe, rare complications may occur including: Allergic reactions (if cerumenolytic agents are used)Otitis externaEaracheTemporary hearing lossDizziness or vertigoRuptured eardrumRinging in the earEar painBleeding (usually mild)Laceration Preventing Accumulation The following measures may help to prevent the accumulation of earwax. However, you should consult your doctor before trying them, especially if you have a history of ear problems: Dip a cotton ball in mineral oil and place in the outer ear canal 10 to 20 minutes per weekAvoid wearing earplugs or hearing aids for eight or more hours at nightIf you are predisposed to ear wax accumulation for medical reasons, consider having a routine ear cleaning done by a healthcare professional every six to 12 months. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mittal A, Kumar S. Role of pH of external auditory canal in acute otitis externa. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;66(1):86-91. doi:10.1007/s12070-013-0684-0 Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al. Clinical practice guideline (update): Earwax (cerumen impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491 Wright T. Ear wax. BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0504.