Removing wax plugs in the ears

Doctors call wax plugs in the ears a disease of “purity.” Proponents of hygiene daily clean the ear canals of wax with things not intended for this purpose. ENT doctors do not recommend “climbing” into the ears with any objects, be it matches, pins or cotton swabs. By getting rid of excess sulfur, patients risk damaging the eardrum.

Make an appointment with an otolaryngologist to have your ears checked and earwax removed. Appointments at the Prima Medica clinic are by appointment.

It is worth noting that earwax is not dirt, it is a special secret produced by the sulfur glands of the ear. Sulfur lubricates the ear canals and protects against insects and infections. Along with sulfur, dust, foreign objects, and keratinized pieces of skin are removed from the ear canal. Healthy ears produce small amounts of wax, but even a healthy person can produce more of the secretion under some circumstances, such as prolonged exposure to a dusty room or a polluted city. Sulfur is spontaneously removed when the jaw moves during talking, coughing, chewing.

As a preventative measure, an otolaryngologist recommends not wiping your ears dry after a shower. It is better to dry the ear canal with a hairdryer or drop a few drops of alcohol into each ear. Proper cleansing should only affect the auricle and not the ear canal.

An ear cleared of wax is much more likely to become infected and suffer from disease. In addition, cleaning the ear at home does not lead to cleansing, and the wax mass, on the contrary, is compacted and pushed towards the eardrum, which contributes to the formation of a dense wax plug, which reduces hearing acuity. In this case, the patient complains of vocal resonance during conversation, tinnitus and a feeling of ear fullness.

If you delay the removal of wax plugs from the ear, hearing loss, otitis externa, eustachitis and bedsores of the external auditory canal may develop. If the ears are often blocked, it is recommended to clean the ear canal twice a year in a medical facility.

Rinsing is done with warm water under pressure. First, the ENT doctor will advise you to soften the ear plugs – drip special medications for several days. Under the influence of a jet from a syringe, sulfur plugs are easily removed. It is better to entrust this procedure to a specialist. After all, during cleaning, constant monitoring is necessary, but this is impossible on your own.

After removing wax plugs from the ear, it is necessary to maintain the normal condition of the ears. Place hydrogen peroxide or petroleum jelly into the ear canal several times a month and clean the ear with a cotton swab.