Earwax is a naturally occurring coating in the ear canal that protects the skin of the external ear canal from water damage, infection, trauma, and foreign objects. Continue reading to learn more about earwax removal in Wirral.

When earwax accumulates to the point where it causes symptoms, it is said to be “impacted.” When impacted earwax does not produce symptoms, treatment may not be necessary, and the earwax may dissolve on its own over time.

Earwax removal in Wirral

If you have symptoms of impacted earwax, the following treatments can help:

– The quickest way to remove earwax is to visit your pharmacist. They have specific instruments to visualise the ear canal’s interior and unique tools and techniques to remove the earwax entirely and safely.
– Ear drops for removing earwax.
– Home treatment to remove earwax.

DON’T:

– Clean your ears using a cotton swab. This can push earwax further into the ear canal, causing or exacerbating impaction.
– Employ “ear candling,” which entails igniting one end of a hollow candle and inserting the other end into the ear canal. This approach is ineffective and can cause ear damage and burns.

What Are the Symptoms of Earwax Impaction?

Generally, impacted earwax does not cause problems, but it may create irritating symptoms, such as:

– A sensation that the ear canal is obstructed or plugged
– Earache or pain in the ear
– Hearing issues
– The sound of ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
– Dizziness
– A cough

More severe symptoms may indicate an infection. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult your pharmacist or doctor:

– Fever
– Discharge coming from the ear canal
– Odour emanating from the ear
– Extreme pain
– Itching
– Sudden loss of hearing
– Loss of equilibrium or incapacity to walk
– Spinning feeling (vertigo)
– Frequent vomiting

What causes ear blockage?

Despite the common belief that earwax is nasty or dirty and should be removed entirely, it is actually a necessary aspect of keeping your ears clean and healthy. Therefore, you shouldn’t interfere with it. It is a mixture of secretions from oil and sweat glands, dead skin cells, and hair that protects the ear with its sticky texture (excellent for collecting dirt, debris, or insects before they enter the ear canal) and helps prevent infection.

The skin bordering the ear canal has a “conveyor belt” motion that naturally removes extra earwax via a ‘self-cleaning’ mechanism. This conveyor belt motion, in conjunction with the actions of chewing and speaking, helps wax to be transported and expelled from your ears, often without your awareness.

The good news is that for the majority of us (19 out of 20 adults), this self-cleaning system works effectively. But occasionally, our ears can’t properly clean themselves. Typically, there are three causes for this.

– Inserting things into our ears
– Our aural anatomy
– The quantity of wax

How to perform earwax removal in Wirral

The majority of at-home wax removal treatments are unsuccessful, and some might even cause permanent harm to your ears. Ear wax softening drops are one of the few at-home treatments that can at least partially dissolve and loosen accumulated ear wax. Those who have a perforated eardrum or an active ear infection should never use wax softening drops. If you are unsure whether wax softening drops are appropriate for you, you should first visit a pharmacist.

What are wax softening drops?

There are typically three types of wax softening drops available at local pharmacies: water-based, oil-based, and non-water and non-oil-based. Additionally, they are available in spray form. For modest amounts of earwax (e.g., when used as a prophylactic), they can be highly effective at dissolving and softening the earwax, allowing it to be moved out of the ear via the conveyor belt action discussed previously.

Is earwax removal in Wirral painful?

If you are still wondering if earwax removal is painful, it is not. It is a quick, painless, and effective procedure that does not require any specific medications or anaesthesia to alleviate pain or discomfort. In actuality, you will barely feel anything. It will be over in a flash, allowing you to resume your life with your hearing and any other ear difficulties caused by earwax build-up restored.

Is earwax removal in Wirral beneficial?

It is crucial to note that earwax is vital for optimum ear health, and you do not need to clean your ears with cotton swabs or anything else on a regular basis. In an ideal world, you should not have to clean the interior of your ears since they clean themselves. To remove residues of earwax, you need to sometimes wipe the outer portion of your ear with a cloth.

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This blog post was written on behalf of The Pharmacy Bebington by Pharmacy Mentor.