Beeswax? It’s all yours, but we can get rid of it!

Unlike beeswax, earwax is supposed to be self-cleaning and straightforward, but for many of us, it just builds up and causes problems. Ear infections, tinnitus, hearing loss, earache… many of these frustrating issues can occur from the build-up of excessive earwax. In this blog, we will cover causes of build-up, symptoms of excessive earwax, potential risks and why you should book an appointment with our earwax removal team to treat your ears:

What causes earwax buildup?

• Narrow or damaged ear canals
• Lots of hair within the ear
• Skin conditions like psoriasis in or around the ear
• Inflammation
• Use of cotton swabs or cleaning tools
• Poking your ear with your finger
• And (famously) swimming!

These are some of the most common causes of ear wax build-up, but this is NOT an exhaustive list. Many factors can cause a build-up but if you are worried about this, book a consultation with our pharmacy team to address it. Outside of this, it’s important to remember earwax is our body’s way of protecting itself. Thus, you can never completely remove it. However, keeping the area around your ears clean and free from obstructions will help decrease the amount of earwax produced.

Symptoms from build-up?

Built-up earwax is not always apparent, unlike the conditions covered by our Pharmacy First service. Earwax is not always “in our face”. Nevertheless, it can exhibit some obvious symptoms. Tinnitus, for example, is a condition that creates a ringing sound in the ears which can sometimes be caused by a build-up of earwax near the eardrum. Changes in hearing can also be a sign of build-up. Gradual changes in hearing might not be obvious but could be due to earwax so be vigilant. Some people may notice a discharge from one or both ears and in cases when there is no infection this could actually be due to earwax.

General unwell feelings such as:

• Dizziness
• Earache
• Feeling of fullness in the ear
• Itchiness around the ear
• Vertigo

These can all be signs of earwax build-up. However, these will generally be present in a group. Symptoms tend to recover on their own as time passes, unless there is a more serious issue such as an obstruction or infection. Both of these will need to be addressed before symptoms resolve.

What are the risks?

It might not seem like a big deal, but our ears can be quite delicate. A build-up can cause real problems left untreated. One common risk is ear infection, which can be incredibly uncomfortable and ultimately damage our hearing. (Of course, in some cases ear infection clears up on its own) By and large, it’s much safer to have them investigated and, if appropriate, treated to prevent longer-term damage to your ear. Left untreated an infection can cause permanent damage to your ear in turn leading to long-standing cases of tinnitus. Tinnitus is not comfortable (to say the least) and can be distressing.  Untreated earwax can cause further build-up leading to impaction, which causes side effects to worsen and exacerbates hearing loss. Although risks are generally low, serious issues might result if symptoms are not investigated and are left untreated. Bottom line? It's best to get your ears checked by a health professional and take any appropriate remedial action. 

What are the treatment options?

Micro-suction is our preferred treatment option for dealing with excessive earwax.



Why? Well simply put this is the most effective, modern way to treat earwax. It can safely remove the excess wax with a minimum of discomfort. Other providers may rely upon ear irrigation which is a somewhat outdated way to remove wax. This method poses more of an infection risk due to the use of water. Practitioners can minimise the risk of infection by using saline water or purified water. This reduces but cannot entirely eliminate the risk of infection. Thus, we at Letchworth Pharmacy prefer micro-suction which causes less discomfort as well as less risk of infection.  All of that said, even our preferred method of micro-suction is not entirely risk-free. It can cause trauma to the ear canal, but this is very rare and usually caused by inexperienced practitioners, or sudden movements by a patient during the procedure.

Beyond this, patients should experience no symptoms or complications from micro-suction. If you do not have severe ear wax but still wish to clean them at home, we suggest you use a home remedy such as 2-3 drops of olive oil, four times a day for 3-5 days in the affected ear. Olive oil can help soften the earwax helping it drain from your ears.

N.B. Almond oil can be used instead of olive oil but only if you are not allergic to almonds!

Do not ever use cotton swabs to clean your ears! Although these do get used, they are more dangerous to use than any potential benefit they might provide. Worst case scenario, cotton swabs can perforate your eardrum causing permanent hearing damage. Avoid at all costs!

Additionally, despite what some people believe, ear candles and ear vacuums do not have any scientific evidence that they work so we don’t recommend using them.

So, if home remedies do not work, just book an appointment with our earwax removal clinician who will be able to help with your next steps towards clearing your hearing:

Conclusion

“Book an appointment!” is what we would suggest to anyone considering our treatment. Earwax can cause a host of uncomfortable issues which simply disappear once treated. Symptoms like earache and vertigo can be troublesome, but our treatment can swiftly solve them. Risks from ear wax are mainly caused by doing nothing… if you broke a leg you would go to A&E, similarly, you should book an appointment with a pharmacy if you have ear trouble. (This approach can be applied to any health issue). When it comes to our health, we cannot just bury our heads in the sand, and expect the problem to go away. Micro-suction is a safe and effective, treatment, that can be as quick as 30 minutes or less. Truly there is nothing to lose!

Any concerns you might have about the procedure should be eased due to the minimal risks our treatment presents. Problems resulting from micro-suction are rare and they are further reduced because our practitioner is highly qualified and experienced. Risks are minimised. Compared with the alternative of ear irrigation, micro-suction is safer and less invasive. Irrigation can pose the same risks as micro suction (yes it can also damage the ear canal) in addition to the risk of infection. Micro-suction is the way forward. We’ve invested in the most modern equipment because we always aim to provide the very best service. 

Reference:

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56782/