Why do we have earwax?
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is produced inside your ears to keep them clean and free of germs. It usually passes out of the ears harmlessly, but sometimes too much can build up and block the ears.
Ear wax protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection from bacteria, fungi, insects and water. In other words, ear wax is a good thing!
The amount of ear wax that the body produces differs from person to person, the amount that is retained within the ear also differs for each of us - these differences are for a number of reasons:
- Age
- Diet
- Lifestyle
- Personal anatomy
- Genetics
- Ethnicity
Many people will produce a small amount of wax their whole lives, which leaves the ear canal naturally, and never have any problem with it. For others, their ear will produce a larger amount of wax, which will not fully leave the ear canal and will become blocked and attempting to clean wax with cotton swabs or other objects can push wax more deeply into the ear, which leads to reduced hearing ability and also a blocked/pressure feeling in the ear. The use of devices such as earplugs, earphones and even hearing aids can also increase the likelihood of ear wax build-up.
The signs of a blockage in the ear canal include:
- Impaired hearing
- Pressure or a feeling of fullness in the ear
- Earache
- Tinnitus
- Dizziness
- Itchiness
- Vertigo
- Ear infections
