Ear wax (cerumen) is a natural yellow/ brown substance secreted by the sebaceous and ceruminous glands in the layer of skin lining the ear canal. Ear wax is believed to have 3 main health benefits:
Cleans the ear canal by trapping and capturing dead skin, small foreign objects (e.g. insects) and any dust or dirt roaming in the environment.
Lubricates the layer of skin lining the ear canal preventing it from drying out and becoming cracked.
Protects the ear canal/ eardrum and reduces the risk of fungi and bacterial ear infections due to it being slightly acidic and possessing antibacterial properties.
In most people ear wax will naturally migrate outwards of the ear canal, however, in some cases, ear wax can build up and become impacted.
In some cases, ear wax can have a tendency to build up and become compacted. There are many factors that can cause this.
- Ear wax doesn’t naturally migrate outwards due to an abnormal layer of skin lining the ear canal
- The ear canal is very narrow causing the ear wax to become impacted
- The ear canal has bony protrusions (exostosis) blocking the wax inside
- The ear wax is pushed deep into the ear canal through the use of cotton buds
- Excessive hair (cilia) is present in the ear canal that traps the wax and prevents it from escaping out
- The ear wax is dry and hard (more common with age) which makes it more difficult for it to migrate outwards
- A worn hearing aid or earplug obstructs the natural migration path of ear wax
The most common symptom caused by impacted ear wax is a ‘blocked ear’. The sensation of a blocked ear is due to the wax creating a “plug” inside the ear canal. A plug of wax can lead to the following symptoms:
-Feeling of fullness and dullness;
-Temporary hearing loss;
-Internal sounds being louder(e.g. chewing, breathing, own voice)
-Earache (otalgia) and discomfort
-Ringing in the ear (tinnitus) mild vertigo (sensation of the room spinning)
- Cough - due to excessive pressure created by the ear wax stimulating the facial nerve inside the middle ear
- Whistling (acoustic feedback) of hearing aid
- Itchiness/ irritation of the ear canal
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