Earwax is known as cerumen.

Cerumen is a normal secretion designed to trap debris, therefore protecting the lining of the ear. It is also slightly acidic and protects the ear from infection. It is continuously secreted into the outer regions of the auditory canal by the ceruminous glands. The wax is gradually moved towards the entrance of the auditory canal by the self cleaning mechanism of the skin and the muscle action of chewing and talking. The colour, consistency and amount of earwax produced by individuals varies widely. Wax may appear dry and flaky, or crumbly, honey coloured or dark brown. It can be soft or quite hard and can become attached firmly to the fragile skin within the ear canal.

A build-up of wax over time can lead to hearing difficulties, pain/ discomfort, cause infection, contribute to dizziness, be the cause of the some headaches, cause some coughs and feeling of being congested and aggravate tinnitus.

Ear irrigation is one way of safely removing earwax.

Some common problems are:

• Narrow ear canals.
• Dusty environments – People who work in areas where there is a lot of dust and dirt in the air, this can cause an over production of wax and the dust combines with the wax making it very stubborn to remove.
• Cleaning attempts – Using cotton buds or other items such as matchsticks or hairgrips to try and clean your ears causes compaction and can cause damage and perforation to the eardrum.
• Earplugs/ in-ear headphones – These can cause over production of wax and compaction.
• Hearing aid moulds can interfere with the body’s natural ability to shed debris and dead skin that build up in the ear canal.
• Habit – Some people have become accustomed to attending regular ear irrigation and feel this is needed to prevent experiencing hearing loss.
• Age – Older people have drier wax and older men tend to have hairy ears.
• Some health conditions can cause excessive ear wax and some conditions prevent adequate natural secretion.
• Some sporting activities can alter the amount of wax produced.