Ear wax query - Hearing Disorders Message Board

cookie monster · 07-04-2003, 10:29 AM

Hello everyone,

I've been wondering about EW & I've a few questions that I'm hoping that someone can help me out.

1) What's the purpose of EW?
2) Do we remove it?
3) If "yes", how much do we remove?
4) Ought we to see a GP if there's blood during scrapping?
5) Is cotton buds suitable for EW removal?

I hope tat I didn't sound disgusting becos although I can find info about EW, I would still like to know what you guys & gals think about it.

Thank you very much.

zip2play · 07-04-2003, 12:28 PM

Hi cookie,

Our dear friend earwax. Well. it's a wax that prevents water from soaking the eardrum and softening it, like our hands in water all day. It's also acidic and anti-bacterial.
It's only a problem if it doesn't naturally come out at the rate it's created and the buildup causes hearing loss. A lot depends on the size and shape of the ear canal, showering techniques, even diet. (Mine literally falls out in small pieces.)

They say you shouldn't clean it out with a cue tip, but lots of people do it gently with no problem.
Yes, for blood on the wax see a doctor. It mighht be no more than a scratch in the canal but these things can get infected with bacteria and fungi. He'll prescribe drops til it's healed.
If drum is damaged, best get it diagnosed and healed.

mlgable · 07-06-2003, 10:02 AM

Ear wax as mentioned is to help keep dirt and debrie out of your ear canal. It should not need to be removed as it will come out on it's own. If however you have excess wax or it hardens in the canal then it might need to be removed. To do this you need to buy an ear flushing kit and try this. If the ear flushing kit doesn't take care of the excess wax then you need to see the doc. You already know that using q-tips or cotton swabs IN the ear is never to be done. The are to be used on the outside part of the ear only. If you have any bleeding from the ear it needs to be checked out immediately as you may have a punctured ear drum. In general ear wax comes out on it's own and nothing needs to be done for it. Trying to take care of things with cue tips etc may cause problems that can even lead to permanent hearing loss.