Safely remove earwax

introduction

Ear wax, which is also called cerumen, fulfills important functions in the ear. It is a bitter, yellowish, greasy discharge from the external ear canal. The wax glands produce this.

They are called in medical terminology Glandulae ceruminosae. It mainly contains Fats, cholesterol and Cholesterol ester but also important enzymes that give the ear wax an antibacterial component, among other things. It protects the ear canal from foreign bodies and insects and prevents them from entering. It also removes dust, foreign materials, dirt, bacteria, fungi and dead skin cells from the Ear canal. Frequent washing or swimming can damage this natural barrier and cause severe ear pain.

How can I remove earwax myself?

Self-cleaning mechanism of the ear

Have the ears own self-cleaning mechanismsthat one at best support should.
Fine hairs in the ear move foreign bodies, dirt particles, dead skin cells and excess ear wax away from the ear canal towards the auricle.

You can then remove this excess “waste” with a warm, damp cloth it is best to gently remove it from the auricle. But you should not in the ear canal penetration. You can do without soap.

At the have a shower you can see the ears Rinse carefully with lukewarm water and subsequently dry. Here, too, you should make sure that no soap or shampoo gets in the ears. This can cause irritation. If the ear cups are very dry or itchy, a few drops of baby oil can help. The skin behind the ears should also be cleaned as it is often forgotten.

Please do not use cotton swabs!

On cotton swab should be used in cleaning the ears waived become. These push the Ear wax namely just further and further into the depth of the ear instead of removing it. This can lead to constipation. In the worst case, the eardrum can also be damaged if the penetration is too deep.

There are various aids that are suitable for cleaning your ears at home. These are presented in more detail below.

Aids for cleaning the ears

1. Ear drops:
Ear drops are already available for little money (from 5 euros) without prescription in pharmacies. The exact application and dosage can be found in the package insert. Usually a few drops are dripped into the affected ear and left to act for 15 to 30 minutes. The drops dissolve the cerumen. Ear drops should, however not used be when Previous ear diseaseshearing aid or inflammation. Otherwise, however, they are usually very well tolerated. To make the application more comfortable, you should warm up the ear drops in your hand beforehand.

2. Ear sprays:
Ear sprays also soften the cerumen so that it can be easily rinsed out with a little water after use. It is very easy to use as you can simply insert the spray head into your ear. It is very suitable for people with a bit of tough ear wax as it facilitates the natural cleaning of the ear.

3. Balloon syringes:
Balloon syringes are small tools for rinsing the ears. You can fill it with water and rinse your ear a little more precisely.

4. Other:
A number of electronic devices, pliers and other things for cleaning the ears can often be found on the Internet. In your own interest you should keep away from such technical aids. Most of the time they are completely useless and show no effect. In the worst case, they can even damage the ear.

Home remedies for cleaning the ears

There are also some home remedies that can make it easier to clean your ears.
Steam baths or warming pads can soften the wax and make it easier to flush it out.
Steam baths soften the earwax with their warmth and make it easier to rinse out the ears. To do this, you pour steaming water into a bowl and, if necessary, add calming ingredients such as chamomile or essential oils to the water. Then hold your ear over the steam bath for a few minutes and then rinse it out. Other warming pads, such as warm washcloths, also have a similar effect.
In addition, high-quality oils such as almond oil can also be used. The oils are carefully trickled into the ear (a few drops are enough!) And after 15 to 30 minutes rinse out with lukewarm water. They soften the cerumen like ear drops and sprays. High-quality oils such as almond oil have a better effect than other oils.
With all home remedies, the last step is the same, which is rinsing your ears. You should then dry your ears well.

Do not manipulate the ear canal with cotton swabs or the like!

It is also not advisable to put your hands on your ears yourself if you have a hearing loss or a very tight plug. In these cases a doctor should be consulted directly. Home remedies should also not be used if you have pre-existing ear diseases and inflammation.

Read more on the topic: Home remedies for earache

Removing earwax from children - what should be considered?

Ear wax is usually not harmful to children either. However, some children seem to produce very large amounts of ear wax. Usually, however, this normalizes in the course of puberty. In spite of this, the temptation is often great to remove the substance that is regarded as dirt. However, this does not necessarily make sense as ear wax fulfills many natural functions.

It is therefore usually sufficient to clean the auricle and the entrance to the external auditory canal with a damp cloth. The back of the auricle should not be forgotten either. This is where dirt often accumulates.

Nothing should be inserted into the ear canal itself. Soap or shampoo should also not get into the ear canal. The use of cotton swabs is now not recommended. Especially in children, the sensitive eardrum and ear canal can be damaged. In addition, ear wax in the depths of the ear canal can usually not be removed sufficiently with cotton swabs.

It is simply pushed back into the ear canal, where it can form an earwax plug. This hinders the child's hearing.

Since children's ears are usually still very sensitive, the use of products suitable for adults, such as ear drops, is not recommended. Products specially developed for children are also sold, but their use or safety is still controversial.

Additional information can be found here: Remove earwax from the baby

Remove with the help of oil

It is often recommended to use oil to remove wax from the ear. This is dripped into the affected ear. Since ear wax is a rather fat-soluble mixture of substances, it should be liquefied and rinsed out with a little water. In most cases, it is advisable to use high-quality oils such as almond or walnut oil. However, the more popular olive oil is likely to work as well, albeit possibly less effectively. Often other substances such as citric acid are added. This should further increase the effectiveness of the cleaning.

Rinsing with pure water may even be superior to using olive oil. When liquids such as olive oil are placed in the ear, the correct temperature should always be observed. The organ of equilibrium and the associated nerves can react very sensitively to sudden cooling or warming. This can lead to dizziness. Therefore, all liquids given in the ear should always be warmed to body temperature.

Remove with the help of ear spray

Special sprays for ear cleaning are sold by different suppliers. When sprayed into the ear, the earwax should soften with the help of the ear spray, which makes it easier to remove.

It should be noted that the use of ear sprays alone is therefore usually not sufficient. The softened ear wax still has to be removed from the ear canal, for example by irrigation.

There are two main types of ear sprays. A large group uses salt as a basis. The second group, on the other hand, is ear oil sprays. In terms of their functionality, these are similar to the use of ordinary oil for cleaning ears, but are usually more convenient to use due to the spray bottle. In general, when using ear spray, the instructions on the package insert should be carefully observed.

In addition, the removal of earwax is usually not particularly useful. If there is no impairment of hearing, ear wax is not a hindrance, but even fulfills many important natural functions.

The use of ear sprays is particularly advisable against a number of ear diseases.

Read more about this here: Diseases of the ear

Remove with the help of onions

Onions or cloves of garlic contain many essential oils. These should also be able to loosen ear wax. Onions also appear to have an antibacterial effect, which could prevent inflammation.

It is recommended to leave the inner part of an onion in your ear overnight. Of course, the onion should not be pushed too deep into the ear canal. The wax should be softened the following morning. This makes it easier to remove. However, there is little confirmed evidence about the effectiveness or safety of the method. Proven and safe methods such as washing with water should therefore probably be preferred.

How can you remove an earwax plug?

An ear wax plug is compacted ear wax that has settled in the outer ear canal and blocks it. This limits the hearing on the affected side. A massive earwax plug can also cause other symptoms such as itching or bloating in the ear canal.

in ear wax plugs can be easily and safely removed by a doctor. The doctor will recognize the ear plug by looking into the ear. For this he usually uses an ear funnel or an otoscope. An otoscope is an illuminated ear funnel on a handle. The tip of the funnel is pushed into the ear canal so that the examiner has a clear view into the ear. Special instruments are available to the doctor with the help of which he can remove the earwax plug. However, a doctor's visit is not absolutely necessary. It is often enough to wash the affected ear with water.

Various products, such as special ear drops, can have a supportive effect here. The use of cotton swabs is not recommended. Often they even worsen the situation, as they push more ear wax back into the ear canal and thus further stabilize the plug.

Professional cleaning of the external ear canal by the doctor

General practitioners or specialized ENT doctors can Ear wax remove using various techniques. Based on a previous examination, the doctor will suggest the most sensible treatment.
Usually the ear wax can with water rinse. This is because ear wax is soluble in water. Alternatively, a Saline solution or another cerumenolytic (i.e. ear wax dissolving) medium be applied. These treatments may require an exposure time of 15 to 30 minutes in advance.
For more stubborn installations, immunodeficiency, Eardrum perforation or in patients with very narrow ear canals, it may be necessary to remove the wax with small instruments. The doctor can do this suction or him with one little check mark detach.
These treatments are usually not painfulHowever, they are considered different by patients unpleasant perceived.

Earwax plug

An ear wax plug, or cerumen obturans / ceruminal plug, leads to a complete closure of the external auditory canal.
There are various causes that can lead to the formation of one. For one thing, a Overproduction earwax may be the cause.
Also through improper ear hygiene Such a plug can arise, for example if you improperly use your ears cotton swab cleans.
A naturally narrow ear canal can also be another factor. This is the Outflow of secretion disturbed and it comes to Constipation.
Also Hearing aids and In ear headphones can prevent the ear from cleaning itself and lead to an earwax plug.
You should also use Hairspray make sure to cover your ears, as the hairspray can lead to sticking.

A Ceruminum plug makes its way through a sudden onset of hearing loss noticeable. This usually only occurs on one side. A feeling of pressure and a dull, subdued feeling on the affected ear are also signs of this. A doctor should be consulted here who will professionally remove the wax.