Medical professionals may not yet completely understand all of its properties, but they are certain of its protective nature. Earwax, known medically as cerumen , is a naturally occurring sticky substance in the outer ear. Earwax contains oil and sweat mixed with dirt and dead skin cells.
Consider these attributes:. Even though earwax has its benefits, blockages can cause conductive hearing loss. If you develop a sensation of stuffiness in your ears and suspect earwax is the culprit:. Its composition varies from person to person, depending on their ethnicity, environment, age and diet. Usually, the body knows exactly how much earwax to produce.
As long as you maintain a healthy diet, have good hygiene and move your jaw think chewing and talking , your ears will naturally expel excess earwax, dirt and debris without any intervention.
In fact, when you make a habit of removing earwax, that sends a signal to your body to make more, creating an excess which can interfere with hearing, put you at greater risk for developing ear infections and other complications. Stress and fear can also accelerate earwax production. While your ears are self-cleaning, there are a few things you can do to keep them clean and free of excess debris:. Debbie Clason holds a master's degree from Indiana University.
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Home Report What you need to know about earwax Illustration of earwax facts. What is earwax? While this is a common earwax removal method, we do not recommend it. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo BPPV is a condition characterised by episodes of sudden and severe vertigo. Croup is a viral infection of the throat and windpipe that causes noisy breathing, a hoarse voice and a harsh, barking cough.
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Skip to main content. Ear nose and throat. Home Ear nose and throat. Ear wax. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of wax build up Wax keeps the ears clean Risk factors for ear wax blockage Diagnosis and treatment for ear wax blockage Prevention of ear wax blockage Where to get help.
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Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Earwax, also called cerumen , is a substance made up of dead skin, oil, bacteria, trapped water, and hair. Wax protects the ear from water, dirt, insects, fungi, bacteria, and harmful objects.
How much earwax is made, the color, and the consistency of it will vary from person to person. This article explores the purpose of earwax, the different types, as well as the causes and symptoms of earwax buildup. It will also look at earwax removal and when to reach out to a medical professional. Earwax repels water and is a protective substance. Based on your genetics, you may make one of two different types of earwax:. Earwax protects the part of the ear you can see, which is known as the outer ear canal.
Earwax prevents water from becoming trapped inside of the ear. This is important because water buildup in the ear can lead to infections. Earwax also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Studies show that a healthy amount of earwax may decrease your risk for ear infections like otitis externa. Despite its benefits, too much earwax can lead to problems. Typically the body removes earwax and dead skin through the action of chewing or talking.
Jaw movement causes the earwax to move from your inner ear towards your outer ear. About 12 million people get treated for excess earwax every year in the United States.
Children and older adults are most at risk for earwax blockage, known as impaction. Reasons for earwax buildup include:. Earwax blockage can cause the following symptoms:.
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