What exactly is earwax?
According to Dr. Amitabh Malik, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology, Paras Hospital, Gurugram (India), earwax is a mixture of secretions from two types of glands in the ear canal: cerumen and sebaceous glands. The main function of earwax is to protect the ear canal from contamination. The wax forms a barrier that traps dirt, dust, and other foreign particles, preventing them from entering the ear canal. It also contains antibacterial substances that help kill harmful microorganisms that may enter the ear, according to the Indian Express (India).
In some cases, earwax has abnormal signs that require seeing a specialist.
Should I clean my ears regularly?
Dr Sheetal Radia, from Wockhardt Hospital (India) said that removing earwax is not necessary. The ear has the ability to clean itself and the body eliminates it on a regular basis.
Dr. Malik warns that some factors that affect earwax include using cotton swabs or other objects to clean your ears, wearing headphones or hearing aids for long periods of time.
Wearing headphones for long periods of time can affect earwax.
The Best Way to Remove Ear Wax at Home
Never try to remove earwax with pen caps, paper clips, cotton swabs, or hairpins. These methods can push the wax deeper into the ear canal and cause serious damage to the lining of the ear canal or eardrum.
Earwax can be removed at home by using 3% hydrogen peroxide (available over the counter). Put 5-10 drops of hydrogen peroxide in the ear. Keep your head tilted to one side for 5 minutes. Then rinse the ear canal with alcohol to dry it and prevent bacteria from growing, according to the health news site Healthline.
Or you can soften and remove earwax by dropping baby oil into your ear like you would with hydrogen peroxide.
In some cases, earwax shows unusual signs that require a visit to a specialist, according to Indian Express.
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