Purpose Of EarwaxThe skin of the outer part of the ear canal has special glands that produce earwax. This wax is supposed to trap dust and sand particles to keep them from reaching the eardrum. Usually the wax accumulates a bit, and then dries up and comes tumbling out of the ear, carrying sand and dust with it. Or it may slowly migrate to the outside where it is wiped off.
Earwax is healthy in normal amounts and serves to coat the skin of the ear canal where it acts as a temporary water repellent. The absence of earwax may result in dry, itchy ears.
Most of the time the ear canals are self-cleaning. Old earwax is constantly being transported from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually dries, flakes, and falls out.
Wax is not formed in the deep part of the ear canal near the eardrum, but only in the outer part of the canal. So when a patient has wax blocked up against the eardrum, it is often because he has been probing his ear with such things as cotton-tipped applicators or bobby pins. Such objects only serve as ramrods to push the wax in deeper. Also, the skin of the ear canal is very thin and easily injured.
Under ideal circumstances, you should never have to clean your ear canals. However, we all know this isn't always so. Many patients need earwax removal on a regular basis. When wax has accumulated so much that it blocks the ear canal (and hearing), your physician may have to wash it out, vacuum it, or remove it with special instruments. This can sometimes be a difficult procedure.
You may soften the wax for a few days by instilling several drops of an earwax softener into the ear canal twice a day. This can be purchased in the drug store without a prescription. If your ear still feels blocked after using the ear drops, you should consult your physician, who may elect to wash it out. Never use a wax softener if there are signs of infection or perforation of the eardrum. Ear infections are very common in Florida and can be made worse by home treatment.