One of the most common questions I receive from patients and attendees at public talks is, “How can I get rid of my annoying ear wax?” With the recent release of new guidelines on ear wax removal by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, I think this is a great time to revisit this topic.
Many people do not realize that ear wax plays a very important role in ear health. It protects the ear canal by providing a protective barrier against harmful bacteria. It also keeps the ear canal clean as it works its way naturally out of the ear canal. While some people do produce an excessive amount of ear wax, this rarely causes a need for intervention beyond simple over-the-counter kits that flush the ear. The absolute worst thing you can do is use a cotton swab such as a Q-tip to try and remove the wax. This can actually worsen the situation by pushing the wax farther down into your ear canal and compacting it, exacerbating your symptoms.
One “treatment” called ear candling is not something I recommend. Also known as auricular candling or coning, this procedure entails placing a cone-shaped device in the ear canal and supposedly extracting earwax and other impurities with the help of smoke or a burning wick. The theory is that the procedure creates a low-level vacuum that draws wax and other debris out of the ear canal. In reality, candling produces no vacuum. Candling “victims” have reported earaches, severe burns, and hearing loss.
All that is usually necessary to remove ear wax is a soft, moist washcloth applied to the opening of your ear. In extreme cases where the wax is so compacted it interferes with hearing, an audiologist or other qualified professional can remove it with special instruments designed for this purpose.
If you’d like to check out the latest guidelines from the Academy mentioned above, log onto www.entnet.org. But for all my readers in the blogoshere, remember to forego the Q-tips!