Somewhere along the way, we humans got the idea that earwax, or cerumen, is undesirable and must be eradicated at all costs! There are very few body functions that serve no purpose and earwax is not one of them. Earwax provides several health benefits. First, it filters dirt and foreign bodies out of our ear canals; second, it lubricates our ear canals keeping them from becoming dry and itchy; finally, it acts as a natural defence again bacteria and viruses.
The vast majority of us generate a normal, healthy amount of earwax, for which no special care is needed. Overzelous cleaning can lead to dry, itchy ear canals, lower defences against foreign objects and bacteria and finally, risk of injury, particularly when Q-tips are involved. Q-tips are a wonderful invention, with many applications- just not in the ears! Risks include earwax impactions, dry/itchy ear canals, ruptured eardrums, and ear infections (when the cotton swab on the end is left behind in the ear canal). We have seen all of these scenarios in our office. Ear candles are often asked about as well. In this process, a candle made of beeswax is inserted in the ear canal, ostensibly to create a ”vacuum” which pulls the earwax out as it warms. The FDA has attempted regulation of this device for 14 years with limited success due to reported injuries including burns, ruptured eardrums and further earwax impaction. It is not recommended under any conditions.
For the small percentage of us who truly generate an excess amount of earwax, over-the-conter earwax drops are typically the best solution as a preventative measure. However, consult your audiologist or primary care provider first as certain health conditions preclude it’s use, including diabetes, perforated eardrums, external ear infections and others. Here’s to healthy ears!
