What causes earwax to be moist and foul-smelling?
Disease description:
Today I went swimming, and afterward water got into my ears. The earwax I removed was both wet and foul-smelling. Why is the earwax in my ears wet and smelly?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Xu Gang
Moist, foul-smelling earwax may result from “oily ears” or water entering the ear canal. In individuals with oily ears, cerumen (earwax) glands in the external auditory canal secrete excessive amounts of cerumen, which appears as a viscous or thin, oily substance. In some patients, repeated water exposure to the ear canal can cause earwax to become more watery and less dense. Additionally, external otitis eczema and chronic suppurative otitis media can both lead to mucoid or mucopurulent discharge from the ear canal, often accompanied by localized crusting.
