Unsure about a treatment?
Ask our team for impartial information and advice about any treatment we provide or medical condition that we treat before you buy.
Advice for Ear Wax
What causes Ear Wax?
Ear wax protects the ear by:
- Trapping and preventing dust, bacteria, and other germs and small objects from entering and damaging the ear
- Protecting the delicate skin of the ear canal from getting irritated when water is in the canal
In some people, the glands produce more wax than can be easily removed from the ear. This extra wax may harden in the ear canal and block the ear. When you try to clean the ear, you may instead push wax deeper and block the ear canal.
Some of the common symptoms are:
- Earache
- Fullness in the ear or a sensation that the ear is plugged
- Noises in the ear ( tinnitus )
- Partial hearing loss, may get worse
- Ear pain or earache
- Feeling of general illness
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Hearing loss in the affected ear
The provider will look inside the ears using an instrument called an otoscope.
Treatment advice for Ear Wax
Most cases of ear wax blockage can be treated at home. The following remedies can be used to soften wax in the ear:
- Olive oil
- Baby oil
- Mineral oil
- Water
- Wash hands and clean ears often.