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Wax in your ear

What is normal?

The outer ear canal is a tunnel that runs from the ear hole to the eardrum. It is about 3 cm long and lined with normal skin containing hairs and small glands that produce wax. The purpose of the wax is to protect the skin of the ear canal and give it a waterproof coating.

Wax is therefore quite normal and people should not feel embarrassed about it building up in their ears. Excessive wax is one of the commonest problems seen by doctors, who are aware of the discomfort it can cause.

How does excessive wax develop?

The glands can produce too much wax or there can be a problem preventing normal drainage of the wax out of the ear.

What are the symptoms?

Most people are not aware that their ear is full wax until they have a hearing problem or a waxy discharge, but if an infection develops in the skin under the wax the ear might itch and ache.

Hearing can be affected by the wax pressing against the eardrum, making it rigid; even a small amount of wax can cause this.

The wax can be pressed onto the drum by:

• water (when swimming or showering)
• earplugs
• objects inserted in the ear, such as cotton-tipped applicators

What is the treatment?

The doctor can remove excess wax by syringing the ear with water, using a suction instrument or cleaning it out with a fine probe.

Before treatment you might be asked to use wax-softening drops for a couple of days. Some patients find that the drops cause a burning sensation. If this happens, stop using them immediately and notify the doctor.

How can wax problems be prevented?

If you have a tendency to build up wax in the ear, you might be advised to use the ear drops regularly to soften the wax so that it can drain out.

Cleaning the ear

The ear canal has a self-cleaning action that allows natural and unnoticeable removal of the wax. So, the ear should be left alone: 'Never put anything smaller than your elbow in the ear'.

If you have a wax problem, see the doctor for advice and treatment. Do not try to fix it yourself: you might cause an infection in the ear canal, or damage the eardrum and affect your hearing permanently.

Copyright 1995: John Murtagh, Professor of General Practice
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia