earwax

You’ll Never Clean the Inside of Your Ears Again After Reading This

Posted by

0


Many Americans swab their ears with cotton swabs as part of their regular hygiene routine, hoping to remove excess earwax. Yet, there’s nothing unhygienic about earwax and experts strongly recommend against inserting such swabs into your ear canal.

Ear Cleaning

Story at-a-glance –

  • Earwax is beneficial for your ears and helps trap dirt and other irritants from entering your ear
  • Your ears are self-cleaning and excess earwax will typically move out of your ear canal naturally, helped along by movements of your jaw (talking, chewing, etc.)
  • Sticking cotton swabs in your ears is not recommended, as it can push earwax deep into your ear canal, causing an impaction

You see, your ears produce earwax for a reason. Known technically as cerumen, it’s produced by glands in your ear canal. Made up mostly of dead skin cells, earwax also contains other substances, including lysozyme, an antibacterial enzyme, fatty acids, alcohols, cholesterol, and squalene.1

Earwax is a substance that’s meant to be in your ears. It aids in your ears’ self-cleaning process, providing protection, lubrication, and antibacterial properties. As explained by the American Hearing Research Foundation:2

“Too little earwax increases the risk of infection… at least ten antimicrobial peptides are present in earwax preventing bacteria and fungi from growing.”

The Benefits of Earwax

If you have too little earwax in your ear canal, your ears may feel dry and itchy. However, just the right amount of earwax helps with:

  • Preventing dust, bacteria, and other germs from entering and damaging your ear
  • Trapping dirt and slowing the growth of bacteria
  • Protecting the skin of your ear canal from becoming irritated by water

Your ears should have a healthy amount of earwax, as they’re a self-cleaning part of your body. Excess earwax should move out of your ear canal automatically, as cells there actually migrate naturally.

The removal of earwax is also helped along by movements of your jaw (talking, chewing, etc.), and once it reaches your outer ear it will simply fall out or be removed when you shower or bathe.

Why You Shouldn’t Stick Cotton Swabs in Your Ears

According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF), under ideal circumstances your ear canals should never have to be cleaned. They state:3

“Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that earwax should be routinely removed for personal hygiene. This is not so.

In fact, attempting to remove earwax with cotton-tipped swabs, bobby pins, or other probing devices can result in damage to the ear, including trauma, impaction of the earwax, or even temporary deafness. These objects only push the wax in deeper, and can block the ear canal entirely.”

Under normal circumstances, earwax is only produced in the outer one-third of your ear canal. One of the primary risks of cotton swabs is they can push the earwax into the deeper part of your ear canal, near the eardrum. As AAO-HNSF noted:4

“When a patient has wax blockage against the eardrum, it is often because he has been probing the ear with such things as cotton-tipped applicators, bobby pins, or twisted napkin corners. These objects only push the wax in deeper.”

When earwax is pushed deep into your ear where it doesn’t belong, it can bring fungus, bacteria, and viruses from the outer ear into the inner ear, increasing the risk of infection. It can also block your ear canal, leading to hearing loss, or even cause a ruptured eardrum.

It’s a vicious cycle, too, because the more you rub your ears with cotton swabs, the more histamine will be released, which makes your skin irritated and inflamed. This, in turn, may make you want to insert a cotton swab again, leading to additional dryness and irritation.5

There’s even research showing earwax impaction may alter cognitive function in the elderly via its affect on hearing. In one study, when impacted earwax was removed hearing improved significantly, as did the participants’ cognitive function.6

Put Down the Cotton Swab – Try This Instead

Most people do not need to clean their ears regularly. However, the following symptoms may indicate you have an excess of earwax buildup that needs attention:7

Noticeable wax accumulation Tinnitus (ringing in your ears) Severe itching in your ears
Frequent earaches Partial loss of hearing Foul odor in your ears
Discharge from your ears A feeling of fullness in your ears A sensation your ears are plugged

An ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, or otolaryngologist, can remove earwax using a special suction, miniature instruments, and a microscope. If your eardrum is perforated, manual removal by a physician is recommended, however in most other cases you can clear earwax blockages at home.

The simplest way to do this is to first soften the wax by placing a few drops of olive oil, coconut oil, or water in your ear. Then, pour a capful of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in each ear to flush the wax out. It’s worth noting that using plain sterile water, or a sterile saline solution, to soften earwax works just as well as oil or over-the-counter eardrops.

As an aside, the hydrogen peroxide trick (pouring a capful of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in your ears) also works remarkably well at resolving respiratory infections, like colds and flu. You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a slight stinging sensation. Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside (usually 5 to 10 minutes) then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear.

If You’re Still Having Trouble With Wax Buildup…

If the home remedies don’t seem to be enough, high-pressure irrigation of your ear canal with a syringe may be necessary to remove troublesome wax. This should only be done by a professional, as if it’s done improperly it can damage your ear drum. Additionally, you should not irrigate your ears if you have diabetes, a perforated eardrum, a tube in your eardrum, or if your immune system is weakened.

If you suffer from a more serious impaction or you can’t get results at home, you may need to get the earwax removed by a physician who can manually remove the wax using microsuction, an otoscope, and other appropriate instruments.

Earwax Buildup Is Often a Sign of Omega-3 Deficiency

While most people’s ears are self-cleaning, there are some who seem to have trouble with excess wax buildup on a regular basis. If this applies to you, you may want to regularly soften and remove your earwax using peroxide, or visit a specialist every six to 12 months for a routine preventive ear cleaning.

However, you will also want to be sure to increase your intake of omega-3 fats, as frequent excess buildup of earwax can oftentimes be traced back to an omega-3 deficiency.

Often, the remedy is quite simple: eat more omega-3s or take a high-quality animal-based omega-3 supplement like krill oil. Good dietary sources of omega-3 include sardines, anchovies, and wild-caught Alaskan salmon.

Once you’ve cleared out any excess buildup or impaction, and are making sure you’re getting sufficient amounts of omega-3, it will normally prevent a recurrence. If the wax does return, it’s a clue that you have a serious omega-3 fat deficiency, and you may want to consult with a natural health care practitioner who can help ensure you’re getting the proper daily dose.

The Following Ear-Cleaning Methods Are Not Recommended

In addition to avoiding cotton swabs or other probing objects to clean your ears, AAO-HNSF also recommends avoiding the use of oral jet irrigators and ear candles. Ear candling involves putting a hollow cone-shaped device or “candle,” typically made of linen or cotton soaked in wax or paraffin, in your ear canal and lighting it on fire.

The person undergoing the procedure lies on his or her side. A paper plate or other collection device is placed above the ear, and the candle is inserted through a hole in the plate into the ear canal. The candle is lit and trimmed as it burns down.

After the candle burns down and is removed from the ear, a cotton swab is used to clean visible wax from the ear, and oil is sometimes applied as a finishing touch. Proponents and practitioners of candling maintain the procedure removes wax and other impurities from your ear.

The process by which this purportedly happens is as the smoke moves down the candle into your ear and back out again, a vacuum is created that pulls out wax and other debris from your ear into the hollow candle. However, research published in the journal Laryngoscope measured this pressure and concluded that no negative pressure was created.8 The same research also revealed that no earwax was removed during candling, and that candle wax was actually deposited in some test subjects’ ears.

Additionally, serious injuries may result from ear candling, including external burns, ear canal obstruction with candle wax, and even a perforated eardrum. Remember, earwax has been designed by nature as a cleaning mechanism for your ears. For most, the wax moves through the ear canal and eventually makes it to the outside, taking any dirt and other accumulated matter with it. Typically, only earwax that has reached the opening of your ear should be removed.

Earwax There to Protect Your Hearing Doctors Say

Posted by

0


Your ears have a reason for producing earwax, primarily to collect dirt, dust and other matter from getting further into your ears. In other words, earwax serves a purpose in protecting your hearing, and doctors at HealthDay News are warning that being too enthusiastic in trying to clean earwax out may result in ear damage.

Overzealousness at ear cleaning can even result in infection, so it’s important to understand that earwax is a substance that’s meant to be in your ears, and it actually aids in your ears’ self-cleaning process, providing protection, lubrication and antibacterial properties.

Known technically as cerumen, it’s produced by glands in your ear canal. Made up mostly of dead skin cells, earwax also contains lysozyme, an antibacterial enzyme, fatty acids, alcohols and cholesterol. Since earwax buildup can be a sign of omega-3 deficiency, you often can solve the problem by simply eating more omega-3s or taking a high-quality animal-based omega-3 supplement like krill oil.

If you have an abnormal buildup of earwax do not use a cotton swab. Rather, try to soften the wax by placing a few drops of olive oil, coconut oil or water in your ear. Then, pour a capful of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in each ear to flush the wax out. It’s worth noting that using plain sterile water, or a sterile saline solution, to soften earwax works just as well as oil or over-the-counter eardrops.

If you suffer from a more serious impaction, you may need to get the earwax removed by a physician who can manually remove the wax using microsuction, an otoscope or other appropriate instruments.

How To Safely Remove Earwax At Home?

Posted by

0


Earwax blockage occurs when earwax (cerumen) accumulates in your ear or becomes too hard to wash away naturally. In most people, a small amount of earwax regularly makes its way to the opening of the ear, where it’s washed away or falls out as new wax is secreted to replace it. If you secrete an excessive amount of wax or if earwax isn’t cleared effectively, it may build up and block your ear canal.

Additionally, earwax blockages commonly occur when people try to clean their ears on their own by placing cotton swabs or other items in their ears. This often just pushes wax deeper into the ear, rather than removing it. You should remember that people, who use ear plugs or hearing aids, are more prone to ear wax blockage.

Signs of Earwax blockage

.Earache
.Feeling of fullness in the affected ear
.Ear noise (tinnitus)
.Decreased hearing in the affected ear

Home Remedies for Ear Wax Removal

1. Saline Solution

Mix 1 teaspoon of salt in around ½ cup of warm water until it dissolves completely. Now, soak a cotton ball in the solution and squeeze few drops of it into the ear by slightly tilting your head upwards. Be in this position for some time so that the salty water properly gets inside the ear. Now, tilt your head in the opposite direction in order to drain out the solution from the ear.

2. Hydrogen Peroxide

Mix equal parts of water hydrogen peroxide and water. Make sure that the hydrogen peroxide is not above 3%; otherwise, it may be harmful. Pour a few drops of it into the ear by tilting your head sideways. Let it settle down in the ear for some time. Now, tilt your head towards the opposite side and let the extra solution drain out.

3. Baby Oil/Mineral Oil

Soften the ear wax by putting a few drops of baby oil or mineral oil with the help of a dropper. Let the oil settle in for some time by placing a cotton ball at the ear opening. This prevents oil from oozing out before reaching the ear wax. Take out the cotton ball after some time in order to drain out the extra oil from the ear. Oil helps to soften the impacted ear wax while facilitating the removal of ear wax.

4. Vinegar and Rubbing Alcohol Solution

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a bowl or mug. Pour few drops into the ear clogged with ear wax.

5. Olive Oil

One of the best ways to remove the ear wax is olive oil as it softens the ear wax, thus making it easier to come out from the ear. Put two-three drops of olive oil into the ear, affected by excessive blockage, during bedtime. Repeat it continuously for 3-4 days.

6. Warm Water

Pour little clean warm water in the affected ear. Leave it for a few seconds. Then, drain it out.

What You Can Tell About Someone From Their…Earwax

Posted by

0


New research shows that earwax varies among people of different ethnicities, suggesting that the substance holds untold secrets.

A team of scientists from Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia gathered earwax from 16 men–half were white and half were East Asian–and examined the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) they released when heated. The amount of VOCs per person varied by ethnicity, and white men had more overall.

83865341 copy

This small finding is important to researchers who believe earwax may carry attributes specific to each individual. Wet or dry earwax is linked to a gene that is also linked to the production of underarm odor, which can convey information about one’s gender, sexual orientation, and health. Already two urine diseases can be diagnosed in earwax before blood or urine testing.

“Odors in earwax may be able to tell us what a person has eaten and where they have been,” George Preti, an organic chemist at Monell told Medical News Today.

Earwax is “a neglected body secretion,” according to researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, PA. A new study shows that, as well as giving different odors corresponding to ethnic group, earwax could store other other useful personal information.

A mixture of secretions from sweat glands and the fatty byproduct of sebaceous glands, earwax is usually a wet yellow-brown wax or a dry white wax.

This wax makes its way to the opening of the ear and is usually washed away when we have a shower or bath.

But earwax does have some beneficial properties.

It traps and prevents dust, bacteria and small objects from getting inside the ear and damaging it, and it can protect the delicate ear canal from irritation when water is in the canal.

Genetic link between underarm odor and earwax

The Monell Center became interested in the properties of earwax after discovering that variations in a gene known as ABCC11 are related to whether a person has wet or dry earwax. This gene is also linked with underarm odor production.

“Our previous research has shown that underarm odors can convey a great deal of information about an individual, including personal identity, gender, sexual orientation and health status,” says study lead author George Preti, PhD, an organic chemist at Monell. “We think it possible that earwax may contain similar information.”

earwax
Earwax is usually a wet yellow-brown wax or a dry white wax produced by sweat and sebaceous glands.

Given that differences in underarm odor can carry this level of personal detail, Preti wanted to see if earwax odor also has characteristics specific to ethnicity.

Preti’s team collected earwax from 16 men – eight of these were white and eight were of East Asian descent. The samples were placed into individual vials that were heated for 30 minutes.

Once heated, the earwax began to release airborne molecules called “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs).

The VOCs – which are odorous – were then collected from the vials using a special absorbent device. A technique called “gas chromatography-mass spectrometry” was used to analyze the chemical make-up of these molecules.

White men produce more odorous earwax than East Asian men

Although 12 different types of VOC were found across all the earwax samples, the amounts of these VOCs seemed to vary according to ethnic background. The white men in the study had greater amounts of 11 of the VOCs than the East Asian men in the study.

East Asian and Native American people were already known to have a form of the ABCC11 gene that causes the dry type of earwax and produces less underarm body order, compared with other ethnicities.

“Odors in earwax may be able to tell us what a person has eaten and where they have been,” says Preti. “Earwax is a neglected body secretion whose potential as an information source has yet to be explored.”

The study notes that at least two odor-producing diseases – maple syrup urine disease and alkaptonuria – can be identified in earwax before they can be detected in blood or urine analyses. Further research from the Center will examine the possibility that analysis of earwax could be useful in detecting conditions before they show up in more traditional tests.

The ABCC11 gene is also associated with breast cancer. In 2009, Japanese scientists found that underarm odor and earwax could alert doctors to women who were carrying this gene and who therefore have increased risk of breast cancer.


At-Home Use of Bulb Syringes May Reduce Clinic Visits for Earwax

Posted by

0


Home use of a bulb syringe may help relieve earwax occlusion more effectively than a clinical procedure, according to an Annals of Family Medicine study.

Researchers randomized some 240 adults in the U.K. either to ear drops and home use of a bulb syringe or to ear drops and irrigation by a clinic nurse. Patients were reassessed after 2 weeks, and those with persistent occlusions had their ears irrigated at the clinic.

At 2 years’ follow-up, patients initially managed clinically returned to the clinic for earwax concerns more often than the home-treatment group (73% vs. 60%).

The authors conclude: “Rather than routine attendance with a clinician, self-treatment with drops and then self-irrigation may offer a significantly less costly alternative.”

Source:Annals of Family Medicine