EARWAX

The insides of your ears are filled with tiny, delicate instruments that make it possible for you to enjoy everything from the crash of cymbals to the soft murmur of a mountain stream. To protect this sensitive area, the ears have tiny glands that produce wax that lines the ear canal. Earwax, along with small hair follicles, traps dust and debris before it reaches the inner ear. The wax then migrates to the outer ear where it’s easy to remove with the tip of a handkerchief.

Some people, however, produce more earwax than the ear can easily get rid of. Over time the wax begins to accumulate. If the opening leading to the eardrum gets blocked, you may lose some of your hearing. Too much earwax also can be painful because it can cause pressure changes inside the inner ear. It’s usually not difficult to get earwax under control. Here’s what you need to do.

Soften it up. When your body is producing a lot of earwax, it can get nearly rock-hard, making it difficult to remove. To soften the wax, put a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, or glycerin in your ear with an eyedropper, then roll your head around to let the oil soak in. If you do this twice a day for several days, the wax will get much softer and will start moving toward the outside of the ear, where it’s easier to remove.

Bubble it away. Another way to soften earwax is to fill and eyedropper with hydrogen peroxide and squirt it into your ears. Let it sit and bubble for a few minutes, then drain your ear by tilting your head to the side. The bubbles will help dislodge small particles of was, which will drain out with the fluid.

Add a little heat. Just like wax in a candle, earwax melts when it gets warm. Resting your ear on top of a hot water bottle or a heating pad (set to a comfortable temperature) will warm up the ear canal and soften or even melt the wax. Keep your head tilted down, which will allow the wax to flow toward the outside of your ear.

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WHEN TO SEE THE DOCTOR
Earwax can be serious problem if your ears produce too much of it. If
you can actually see excess wax in the outer part of the ear, or if your
hearing seems to be getting worse or you’re hearing ringing or other
noises, you need to see your doctor.
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Give your ears a good washing. Once you’ve loosened the earwax, fill a three-ounce rubber bulb syringe with water that’s about body temperature (98.6F). With your head tilted down, pull your outer ear out a little to straighten the ear canal. Then gently squirt some water into the canal. The water will help break up earwax and float it along the canal toward the outside of your ear. When you’re done, dry your ear with a towel and squirt a little bit of rubbing alcohol inside. Then tilt your head so the fluid drains out. The rubbing alcohol will help dry the ear canal, reducing the risk of infection.
Clean your ears with care. When earwax starts building up, many people go after it with a cotton swab-and inadvertently push the wax deeper inside. Eventually it can form a hard little plug that can be almost impossible to get out. Doctors recommend cleaning the outside of your ears only, not with a cotton swab, but with the tip of a wash-cloth that’s been moistened. This will keep your ears clean without pushing additional wax where it isn’t meant to go.