What is ear wax?
What is ear wax? Cerumen (by it’s medical name) is is made up of dead skin cells from your ear canal mixed with sweat, fat, cholesterol, alcohol and lipids which are produced by two glands in your ear.
Sounds nice, right?
Not if you ask the girlfriend of the Suffolk man who, in 2017, made her a candle from his own earwax for her birthday. It may have taken him years to collect it all but she didn’t appreciate his efforts as much as he had hoped, telling local news “It’s smells disgusting. It makes me want to vomit”.
It’s fair to say that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. That said it is hugely important for your ears, acting as a natural lubricant to reduce itchy, dry skin; and also as your body’s way of trying to fend off nasty infections.
Effects of ear wax build up
Too much of it and you can develop a conductive hearing loss, a blockage which stops sound coming through at the levels you need to function correctly.
The build up can often become stubborn, not dropping out of your ears naturally like it should.
There are a few home remedies you can try at first. If they aren’t successful then you need help. That’s where we can step in. You should seek help if you develop a hearing loss, earache, tinnitus or vertigo.
Do I have an ear wax blockage?
There are many symptoms which could point to an ear wax blockage. Don’t miss out on life’s important moments. If you are suffering with the following signs of a blockage, it might be time to book an ear wax removal appointment.
- Sudden hearing loss
- Ear ache, pain or itchiness
- Ringing noises
- Dizziness
- A 'full' feeling in your ear
Ear Wax FAQs
Ear wax is a weird but wonderful necessity and we get many questions about its relationship to our ear health.
If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for here, try the steps below to discover more.
Can ear wax build-up affect my hearing aids?
If you wear hearing aids, ear wax can affect how they work. A significant amount can cause them to ‘whistle’, usually stopped following ear wax removal.
Regular usage of hearing aids, and things like headphones, can also make you prone to a blockage, as the device stops the natural process of the ears cleaning themselves.
Is tinnitus linked to ear wax?
You may experience tinnitus if you have a build-up of ear wax. Often this happens if you have developed a sudden hearing loss.
Once the earwax is removed, the tinnitus usually goes away. If this isn’t the case the you may require further support. In this case we can help you find the best help and advice.
Got a question?
No problem. Call us on 01429 233 091 or visit the NHS web page on this subject for some independent info.
