All those checkups lead to about 8 million yearlyearwax removalprocedures performed by medical professionals (a.k.a.
not theear candlespecialist at the salon on the corner).
Purpose of Earwax
The purpose of earwax is to keep your ear canal clean.
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It is a normal, protective coating for the sensitive skin of the ear canal.
A canal coated with ear wax will repel water and help prevent external ear infections.
For most people, the ears are self-cleaning.
When you dig it out with your cotton swab, you leave your ear very vulnerable.
Think of a cotton swab like the plungers used to load cannons.
They can pack softer wax deeply in the ear canal against the eardrum.
The eardrum is very delicate, so you canpuncture itwith a cotton swab.
Theyre the tiniest bones in the body and theyre right under the eardrum, attached to it.
Q-tips can even cause dislocation of one or more of theses three tiny bones.
When this happens, the ear will need to be lavagedwashed out by a gentle stream of warm water.
If your symptoms don’t improve after a few treatments, see your healthcare provider.
Earwax removal kits available in stores also can be effective at removing wax buildup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes and no.
Using a Q-tip inside your ear can cause problems.
In addition, putting a Q-tip too far into your ear can damage the eardrum.
Your ear canal is lined with nerve endings.
Apply a few drops into the ear canal twice a day for up to five days.
After a day or two, use the bulb syncing to gently squirt warm water into the ear.
It may be helpful to hold a bowl or plastic container under your ear to catch the drips.
The doctor uses a micro-suction machine that acts like a tiny vacuum to remove the wax.
The procedure is quick and painless.
2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29.
doi:10.1177/0194599816671491
Wright T.Ear wax.BMJ Clin Evid.
Published 2015 Mar 4.
AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guideline:Earwax Removal(8/29/2008).
American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery.
