Trouble hearing? Or did you push that cotton swab a little too deep this time? A clogged ear from earwax buildup is at best annoying and at worst a prelude to hearing loss.
But earwax, also known as cerumen, is not only normal, it’s necessary.
“People think that earwax is dirty and needs to be cleaned, but earwax has both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties,” says ear, nose and throat specialist Anh Nguyen-Huynh, MD. “It also protects ears from things that could hurt the eardrum, such as dust, hair or small insects.”
Factors that can affect your amount of earwax include previous ear surgery or trauma, recurrent ear infections, or wearing hearing aids or deep earplugs.
How to remove earwax safely
So how can you best handle earwax woes?
“Sometimes, trying to clean them causes more problems than it’s worth,” says Dr. Nguyen-Huynh. “Ears are like self-cleaning ovens. When the outer layer of skin in the ear canal sheds, the wax will fall out with it.”
If earwax is becoming a nuisance, Dr. Nguyen-Huynh recommends several easy ear cleaning methods:
Over-the-counter ear cleaning drops
If you have a small amount of wax, over-the-counter ear cleaners work well. Look for drops that contain hydrogen peroxide or other kinds of peroxide. The peroxide does a good job of breaking up earwax.
Here’s how to use ear cleaning drops:
- Lay sideways: Make sure the ear you’re cleaning faces up and add the drops as directed.
- Let it sit: Allow the cleaning solution to sit in your ear for around five minutes. This lets the liquid soak in and soften things up.
- Grab a tissue: When you sit up, the liquid should come out along with the earwax that broke loose. Have a tissue ready to catch it all.
Ear cleaning drops may not work if you have too much earwax or a condition called impacted cerumen (when there’s a firm wax plug blocking your ear canal).
“When it’s a plug, putting peroxide in your ear may make things worse because you’re softening the plug but not dissolving or removing it,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says. “Then the softened plug becomes like a wall of mud that can plug your ear even more.”
A bulb syringe
If ear cleaning drops don’t work, the ears might need flushing with a bulb syringe, which are available at drug stores or grocery stores. You’ll want to fill the syringe with warm water, place it near your ear opening, and carefully squeeze the bulb. The warm water will flood your ear and break up the wax. Turn your head to the side over a sink or bathtub to let the water (and, ideally, wax) flow out.
However, there are a few caveats:
- Be gentle: Flush your ear gently to avoid harming your eardrum.
- Watch the temperature: The water should not be too cold or too hot. If it is either, the temperature difference could make you dizzy.
- Avoid if necessary: Don’t use the flushing method if you have a hole in your eardrum or if you’ve ever had eardrum surgery. Flushing may damage your eardrum repair.
If you are not comfortable flushing your own ears, says Dr. Nguyen-Huynh, you might want to check with your primary care provider’s office to see if there is a nurse who can do it for you.
Mineral or olive oil
Anecdotally, Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says people who put olive oil in an ear before getting a cleaning seem to get wax out more easily. “It lubricates the ear canal,” he explains. “But I’m not sure it’s any better than what we usually recommend, which is mineral oil.”
Earwax removal methods to avoid
All earwax removal hacks are not created equal. Dr. Nguyen-Huynh recommends steering clear of these two remedies:
Cotton swabs
A manufacturer’s warning on the package says it all: Do not insert swab into the ear canal. Dr. Nguyen-Huynh explains: “A cotton swab acts like a ramrod in an old-style cannon. The tip pushes the earwax in deeper, so the more you use it, the more earwax you push in. Plus, you may rupture your eardrum if you push too far. Or if you scratch your ear canal, it can get infected because now dirt and bacteria can penetrate under your skin.”
Earwax removal candles
Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says you should doubly stay away from this method: These candles don’t work, and they may burn you.
Why and when you should clean out earwax
While earwax is generally more annoying than dangerous, sometimes you need a doctor to clear it. Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says it’s smart to seek medical evaluation if home remedies don’t work, your ear hurts or you have trouble hearing.
“Someone needs to look in and see if the ear canal is open or if the wax is plugging it up,” he says.
Symptoms of a clogged ear include:
- Pain
- Your hearing becomes muffled
- A feeling like your ear has something blocking it
- Dizziness
- Tinnitus
If the situation is minor, you may be able to get your ears unblocked right then and there. If not, a doctor can use operating microscopes to magnify inside the ear canal, loosen the wax and vacuum it out.
And a clogged ear may have other causes. “It could be a middle ear infection with fluid filling up the space behind the eardrum,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh cautions. “Or you could have a viral infection that affects the inner ear. In those cases, a doctor can diagnose and treat you to prevent permanent hearing loss.”
But like most things in life, it’s all about balance — too much wax can block your ears and cause temporary hearing loss or infections. “A small number of people will need cleaning if they produce too much wax that jams up the ear, especially if they have a smaller-than-average ear canal,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh explains.
How To Steer Clear of Swimmer’s Ear
Ear plugs, bathing caps, hydrogen peroxide and hair dryers can all help keep ears clean and dry
Whether you’re surfing at the height of summer, counting laps at your gym’s indoor pool or celebrating the holiday season with a polar plunge, this much is certain: Swimmer’s ear can really dampen the mood.
But what is swimmer’s ear exactly? And why do we call it “swimmer’s ear” if you don’t have to swim to get it? We talked to head and neck specialist Richard Freeman, MD, to find out what causes this unpleasant condition and what you can do to reduce your chances of getting it.
Ways to prevent swimmer’s ear
You don’t have to swim to get swimmer’s ear, also called otitis externa — but water is definitely part of the equation. So, what is it about water that causes swimmer’s ear?
Bacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal multiply in warm, wet conditions and cause irritation, infection or inflammation. Occasionally, a fungal infection causes the same result.
“The ear canal is dark and warm, so if it gets wet, you have all the ingredients for a petri dish to grow bacteria,” Dr. Freeman explains.
The condition’s more common when you’re in water often. But you don’t have to swim regularly to get swimmer’s ear. You can also develop it by doing daily activities like bathing and showering!
Swimmer’s ear is also more common in warm weather. A landlubber’s ear can become infected because the bacteria is more likely to get damp from summer heat, humidity levels and perspiration.
You can reduce your risk of swimmer’s ear by keeping your ears clean, dry and irritant-free. Ways to do that include:
Don’t swim in dirty water
You’re more likely to get swimmer’s ear if you swim in natural bodies of water or pools and hot tubs that aren’t properly maintained. It also raises your risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
Use hydrogen peroxide
Clean your ears occasionally with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. That can help remove excess earwax, which can trap water in your ear.
Use about half of an ear dropper full. Let it bubble and fizz. Then, turn your head to the side and pull back on the top of your ear to allow it to drain properly.
Make sure you use drying drops (if approved by your provider) or use a hair dryer to ensure no moisture gets left behind in your ear canal.
Use a hair dryer
Speaking of hair dryers, you can use one any time you need to dry out your ear canal gently and indirectly. Just make sure you’re using low or no heat and keep the dryer a safe distance from your skin.
Don’t use cotton swabs or tissues to clean or dry your ears
It’s tempting, we know. But cotton swabs can scratch the skin in your ear canal and make conditions worse. They can also damage your eardrum and stimulate an over-production of ear wax.
Leave your ear wax alone
One of the reasons we have wax in our ear canals is to protect them from infection, so let it be!
If you feel like your ears are truly clogged with the stuff — and a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution isn’t helping — contact a healthcare provider. They can check your ears and decide how best to remove excess wax.
Wear earplugs or bathing caps
While not the most attractive swim accessories, ear plugs and bathing caps can help keep water out of your ears.
But remember: They can also trap water in your ears. So, no matter how careful you are to keep your ears dry in the pool, dry them thoroughly after swimming.
Avoid getting irritating chemicals in your ear
Especially if you struggle with dry, sensitive skin (or a condition like eczema), it’s important to keep potential irritants out of your ear canal. For example, try using earplugs or cotton balls to cover your ears while you style your hair.
Hold off on the ear-drying drops
They sound like a magic bullet in the fight against swimmer’s ear, but ear-drying drops aren’t for everybody — especially people who have other medical issues involving their ears.
Before using these products, make sure you’ve:
- Had your ears examined
- Reviewed your medical history with a healthcare provider
They’ll let you know if the benefits of ear-drying drops outweigh the risks — and teach you how to properly use the products.
How to get rid of swimmer’s ear
Following all of Dr. Freeman’s do’s and don’ts isn’t a guarantee that you won’t get swimmer’s ear at some point. But there’s good news: Swimmer’s ear is treatable. And if you act quickly, it shouldn’t cause significant damage.
Typically, you can identify a swimmer’s ear infection by:
- Redness and swelling of your ear canal and outer ear (the part that you can see around the opening)
- Itching
- Pain
- Pus drainage
- A feeling of fullness
- Hearing loss (sometimes)
You may be able to reduce the inflammation by cleaning and drying the ear canal. In most cases, this requires applying antibiotics or anti-fungal ear drops. The drops need to reach your skin in order to work, so cleaning your ear with hydrogen peroxide, for example, is important.
If you look on the internet, you’ll find home remedies for swimmer’s ear. But according to Dr. Freeman, a trip to a doctor is your best bet. That way, you don’t risk undertreating the condition or making it worse. A provider can:
- Clean your ear safely
- Recommend the correct ear drops for your situation
- Show you how to use them.
If it doesn’t resolve (or gets worse) after a week to 10 days of treatment, Dr. Freeman advises that you follow up with your provider. You also need to pick up the phone if you:
- Are running a fever
- Still have drainage coming from your ears
- Can’t hear or your hearing is impaired or muffled
- Are noticing new symptoms you didn’t have before
“If left untreated, swimmer’s ear can get worse and harder to treat,” he warns. “Occasionally, you might need prescription oral antibiotics and, in extreme conditions, may need to be admitted to the hospital.”
Are some people more prone to swimmer’s ear?
You may be surprised to learn that the shape of your ears can make you more or less likely to get swimmer’s ear. But that’s not the only factor that determines your risk. Other medical conditions play a role, too.
For example, people with diabetes are also more prone to the condition. And having allergies or skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or seborrhea can increase your risk of swimmer’s ear — or make the infection worse.
You can’t change the shape of your ears or your medical history. But keeping your ears clean, dry and free of irritation can stack the deck in your favor.
