What should I do if I have a lot of earwax?
I am a 28-year-old male. Recently, I noticed excessive earwax in my ears. Sometimes I feel a sensation of fullness in the ears, and my hearing has become slightly muffled. I am concerned about potentially injuring the ear canal while attempting to clean it myself. What should I do about excessive earwax?
Doctor's answer (1)
Excessive earwax may be caused by increased ear canal secretions or improper cleaning, and can usually be removed using appropriate methods. Earwax itself serves a protective function for the ear canal, but when it accumulates excessively, it may cause discomfort such as a feeling of fullness in the ear or hearing loss. If the earwax is soft, warm water can be used to gently irrigate the ear canal, or specialized earwax softening agents can aid in its removal. However, the skin of the ear canal is relatively delicate, and attempting self-cleaning with cotton swabs or other tools may push the earwax deeper into the ear and even damage the ear canal or eardrum. Therefore, frequent or excessive cleaning of the ear canal is not recommended.
If there is excessive earwax that is difficult to remove by oneself, it is advisable to visit an otolaryngology (ENT) department at a hospital for professional assistance. Doctors can safely and effectively remove earwax using specialized instruments or microscopic techniques. In daily life, avoid using sharp objects to clean the ears, keep the ears dry, and reduce the risk of ear canal infections. If earwax buildup or ear fullness occurs frequently, it may be necessary to check for possible ear canal inflammation or other related conditions.
