Why Do I Have So Much Earwax? – Earwax Buildup Causes, Treatments – Prevention Magazine

If you’re regularly reaching for cotton swabs to evacuate annoying globs of gunk from your inner ear, you may often wonder: “Why do I have so much ear wax?” or “is it normal to have this much?” The questions might come with a bit of shame or embarrassment, but we can assure you that you’re not a gross person. Earwax is a normal product of being human, and according to Cher Zhao, M.D., a pediatric ear, nose, and throat specialist at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Eye and Ear, some people simply have a little extra.

What is earwax, exactly?

Earwax, medically known as cerumen, is a natural substance made of oily secretions from the outer two thirds of the ear canal mixed with dead skin, explains Dr. Zhao. “It cleans, lubricates, and protects the ear canal by trapping dirt, dust, and other small debris,” she adds. So, believe it or not, earwax is a good thing. But, just like anything else, too much of it can become a bad one.

Why do earwax buildups (impactions) happen?

Zhao says genetics and age are big pre-determinants of how much wax you produce, adding that excessive amounts are more common in the elderly and those who wear hearing aids. Why is that? Well, in case you didn’t know, your ears actually clean themselves by way of chewing, talking, and other jaw movements. Those actions, plus growing skin within the ear “help earwax migrate outward from inside our ears, where it then falls out on its own or is washed off,” explains Zhao. “However, in some people, this self-cleaning mechanism doesn’t work very well and can lead to a buildup of earwax.”

When this happens and ultimately blocks the ear canal, Zhao says it’s called a wax impaction, which can cause decreased hearing, ringing in the ears (a.k.a. tinnitus), pain, itching, discharge, a foul odor, or a feeling of ear fullness. “In older people, earwax impaction can cause hearing loss which can be associated with cognitive impairment,” Zhao adds.

How to clean your ears (and remove an impaction) at home

First and foremost, Zhao says the most effective way to clean your ears at home is to let your body empty them naturally. (Yes, that means toss the cotton swabs.) If you experience an impaction, though, you can follow Zhao’s tips for safe at-home removal:

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Source: https://www.prevention.com/health/a40118616/everything-to-know-about-ear-wax/