Is it normal to produce lots of ear wax?

Earwax (also called cerumen) often gets a bad reputation. Some people think it’s dirt, but it’s actually a natural and important part of how our ears stay healthy.

Earwax helps protect your ears by trapping dust, dirt and bacteria before they can travel deeper into the ear. It also keeps the delicate skin inside your ear canal moisturised, helping to prevent dryness, irritation and itching.

Everyone’s ears are different, and the amount of earwax you produce can vary from person to person. So, if you notice that you produce more wax than your friends or family, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.

Some people who are more likely to experience earwax build-up include people who wear hearing aids or earbuds regularly, have narrow or hairy ear canals, or naturally produce thicker wax.

Most of the time, earwax doesn’t cause any problems.

Your ears are good at naturally cleaning themselves. In most cases, earwax slowly makes its way out of your ears on its own. Everyday movements like chewing, talking, or even yawning help push wax toward the outer ear, where it can flake away naturally.

However, sometimes, earwax can build up and block the ear canal. This is known as earwax impaction.

Signs of earwax build-up

Signs of earwax build-up can include:

• Reduced or muffled hearing
• A feeling of fullness in the ear
• Itching or discomfort
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
• Dizziness (in rare cases)

Unless your earwax is causing problems with your hearing, it doesn’t need to be removed. One of the most common mistakes people make is using cotton buds (Q-tips) or other objects to “clean” their ears. This is not recommended as you risk pushing the ear wax back down your ear canal, which can cause blockages, infection and hearing loss.

Instead, use a warm flannel to clean inside and around the visible part of your ear. Be careful not to push the flannel down your ear canal, as some parts of your ear canal can be very sensitive and painful.

If your ears keep blocking up or your hearing has changed, it’s a good idea to have them checked by a hearing healthcare professional.

At Resonate Health, our ClearEars appointments use the world-leading Tympa Health microsuction system to gently and safely remove wax from your ears. Book in for a ClearEars appointment at your nearest studio today.