All you need to know about earwax

Earwax is a substance produced in your ear canal. It’s made of skin cells and fluids that your glands release in your ear.

It catches dust, dirt, hair and water, stopping them from travelling deeper into the ear. It also helps protect against bacteria. You may hear it called cerumen.

It may not look great, but it’s there to protect your ears by:

• acting as a barrier against dust, dirt and small particles
• stopping germs from getting inside
• keeping the skin inside your ears lubricated and healthy

Your ears usually clean themselves. The wax slowly works its way out naturally through everyday movements, such as talking and chewing. You may not even notice it.

But sometimes earwax can build up and cause problems. This is called impacted earwax.

It’s more likely if you:

• are older (over 50), as earwax can become drier and harder to clear
• have narrow ear canals, or ear canals with an unusual shape
• have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis

Using or wearing anything in your ear can also push wax deeper into the ear, where it can collect and block the canal. These include:

• cotton buds
• in-ear headphones or ear plugs
• hearing aids

Sometimes, there’s no clear cause. Your body might just produce more earwax than usual.

Earwax build-up can feel different for different people.

Common signs include:

• muffled or reduced hearing
• a blocked or full feeling in the ear
• earache or discomfort
• itching in or around the ear
• ringing or buzzing sounds (tinnitus)
• feeling dizzy or off balance

These symptoms can come on slowly or suddenly. It’s not always easy to tell if earwax is the cause. Other ear problems can feel similar.

If you are unsure, it is always safest to get advice from a healthcare professional.

Most people don’t need to do anything about earwax, as it will move out of the ear by itself.

If you think earwax may have built up, you can try softening it at home, using olive oil or drops from a pharmacy.

But home treatments do not work for everyone.

You should get advice if:

• your symptoms have not improved after a few days
• your hearing is badly affected
• your ear feels very blocked
• you have pain, discharge or bleeding
• you keep getting problems with earwax

If this is the first time you have symptoms, it can be helpful to speak to a GP or pharmacist. They can check what is causing the problem and whether earwax removal is right for you