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Earwax Buildup

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

The glands in your ear make wax, or cerumen (SIR-ooh-men), to protect the area between the eardrum and the outside of the ear. If you have too much wax, that passage will be blocked. Unless the blockage is removed, you risk developing an ear infection. Excess earwax can also cause damage to your eardrum.

Causes

Excess wax mixes with dust or water and collects in the ear.

Signs/Symptoms

Possible symptoms include hearing loss, ear pain, a ringing sound, or a feeling that something is plugging your ear.

Care

Your doctor can remove the excess wax with ear wash and special tools.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

  • After removing the blockage, the doctor may advise you to remove earwax at home with wax-softening ear drops that you can buy without a prescription.
  • To insert the ear drops:
    • Lie down with the affected ear pointed toward the ceiling.
    • Put 2 or 3 drops into the ear, plug it with cotton, and wait 20 minutes.
    • Using a soft rubber bulb syringe, squirt warm water gently into the ear canal several times to wash out the earwax.
  • Do not try to remove earwax with a stick or cotton swab. This can damage the eardrum or cause an infection in the ear canal.
  • If you work in a dusty area, wear earplugs to help keep your ear canals clean.

Call Your Doctor If...

  • You continue to have pain in your ear.
  • You develop a high temperature.
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