Earwax 101: Understanding its Purpose and How to Maintain Healthy Ear Hygiene

Earwax, also known as cerumen, plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of our ears. Though it may not be the most appealing substance, it serves as a protective measure to keep the ear canal adequately lubricated and shielded. Understanding the significance of earwax helps us appreciate the body’s natural defense mechanism for our ears.

In this post, we’ll discuss this essential substance and how to properly maintain it for good hygiene. Removing earwax entirely is not the ideal outcome for anyone that values ear hygiene.

What is Earwax Made From?

Cerumen is comprised of dead skin cells, secretions from glands in the ear canal and hair. These secretions contribute to its moisture. We tend to think of earwax as a soft clump, but it can also be liquid-like for some individuals and that may also depend on age and genetics, as well as certain environmental factors.

Some people will have soft, liquid-like earwax while some can have harder earwax. For example – those in hotter climates with more intensive humidity levels may have softer kinds of earwax on average.

What is the Purpose of Earwax?

The primary purpose of earwax is to serve as a protective barrier within your ear canal. Your inner ear and the eardrum are a delicate system of sensitive components, and so dirt, dust, grime and debris can interfere with their functioning.

Earwax serves to create a sticky barrier that helps lubricate, self-clean and provide antimicrobial influence over your ear – helping to prevent bacterial and fungal infections. As you can see – while it’s hardly a pleasant substance on the surface, your inner ear is helping to preserve your health with its continual production.

How Can I Manage Earwax with Proper Cleaning?

First, make sure you don’t overclean your ears, or insert any objects into your ear canal which can compress your earwax and cause trouble. If you’ve noticed a buildup, then over-the-counter eardrops may be able to help you soften it for its natural removal. Gentle cleaning with soft buds or cloths and warm water can help remove the excess, too. Moreover, it’s good to keep any earbuds or headphones you wear clean so that earwax isn’t pushed deeply into your ear canal.

An excess of trapped moisture can otherwise contribute to issues such as swimmer’s ear. Unless your earwax presents an actual problem – light cleaning is enough. You should not seek to remove all earwax present.

What if I Have a Blockage or Excess of Earwax?

If you notice earwax blockages, reduced hearing or discomfort within your inner ear, an audiologist can better identify and help remove blocked earwax using a range of non-invasive methods designed to protect the functioning of your inner ear.

Why not schedule an appointment today to gain the assistance you deserve? With this advice, we hope you better understand earwax, its purpose and worthwhile cleaning strategies to handle it. Your audiologist will be able to talk to you about the safe ways to clean your ears.