Remove excess wax

Video: Excessive Ear Wax: Tips for Safe Removal

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning your ears with liquid
Method 2 of 3: Have yourself examined and treated by a doctor
Method 3 of 3: Avoid common mistakes
Tips
Warnings

Earwax is a natural substance that helps protect the ear and ear canal, but sometimes it can build up and cause hearing problems and discomfort. If you have serious symptoms, such as ringing in your ears, hearing loss, or dizziness, see your doctor. You may have an ear infection or another more serious condition. You can also regularly clean your ears in a simple way by removing the excess wax with ear-safe liquids such as saline solution, hydrogen peroxide and mineral oil. Whatever you choose, always make sure to treat your ears gently so that you don't do more harm than good.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Cleaning your ears with liquid

Rinse your ears with a saline solution. Saline solution is a gentle and effective method of removing wax from your ears. Soak a cotton ball in the saline solution, then tilt the ear in question towards the ceiling and squeeze a few drops of saline into your ear. Tilt your head for a minute to let the saline work, then tilt your head to the other side to let the moisture flow out of your ear.
- Gently dry your outer ear with a towel when you're done.
- You can buy ready-to-use saline solution from the drug store or make your own by mixing a gallon of distilled water with two teaspoons (10 grams) of non-iodized salt. You can use tap water in place of distilled water, but then boil the water for at least 20 minutes and let it cool before using.
- If your wax is hard and stuck in your ear, you may need to soften it first with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide, baby oil, or a commercially available wax removal product.
Tip: use water that is approximately at body temperature. Using water that is colder or warmer than your body can make you dizzy.
Soften stubborn wax with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide also has the advantage that it can dissolve hard ear wax. To clean your ears, dip a clean cotton ball in a mixture of one part water and one part hydrogen peroxide, or draw up a few drops of hydrogen peroxide with a pipette or balloon syringe. Tilt your head to the side so that your ear is facing up and drip three to five drops of moisture into your ear. Wait five minutes and then hold your ear down to let the moisture flow out again.
- It may be a good idea to rinse your ear afterwards with just water or saline solution.
- You can use this mixture two or three times a day for up to a week. If you experience pain and irritation in your ears, stop using it and see your doctor.
Try baby oil or mineral oil as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide. Baby oil and mineral oil, like hydrogen peroxide, can soften stubborn wax to make it easier to remove. Using a pipette, place two or three drops of the oil in your ear, then hold your ear up for two to three minutes to allow the oil to soak in. When you are done, tilt your head to the side to let the oil and wax drain out of your ear.
- You can also use glycerine for this.
- Use oil to soften your wax before rinsing your ears with a saline solution.
Use alcohol and white vinegar to dry out damp ears. A mixture of alcohol and white vinegar can help clean your ears as well as dry up the extra moisture that can cause irritation and inflammation. In a clean glass, mix a teaspoon (5 ml) of white vinegar with a teaspoon (5 ml) of rubbing alcohol. Soak up some of the liquid with a pipette and place six to eight drops in your ear. Let the mixture flow all the way into the ear canal, then tilt your head to let the moisture drain out of your ear.
- If your ears are always moist, you can use this mixture twice a week for several months if your doctor recommends it. However, stop using it and seek advice from your doctor if you experience irritation and bleeding.

Method 2 of 3: Have yourself examined and treated by a doctor

If you have the symptoms of a blocked ear, see your doctor. If you think there is a lot of wax in your ear, make an appointment with your doctor. In addition to safely removing the excess wax, your doctor can check to see if your symptoms indicate a more serious underlying condition. See your doctor if you have symptoms such as:
- Earache
- A full or blocked feeling in your ear
- Itching in your ear
- Pain when you touch your ear
- Difficulty hearing
- Ringing sound in your ear
- Dizziness
- Cough that is not caused by a cold or any other condition
Did you know? Hearing aids can cause your ears to produce more wax, and the wax can eventually damage your hearing aids. If you have a hearing aid, see your doctor regularly to check your ear for excess wax.
Ask your doctor to rule out an ear infection or other underlying condition. If you have an ear infection or an injury to your ear that causes certain symptoms, it is important to get the correct diagnosis and treatment to prevent further damage. If you have an ear infection or other problem with your ear, such as a damaged eardrum, cleaning your ears can be dangerous.
- If you have an ear infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help heal the infection. Do not pour liquids or put objects such as cotton buds in an infected ear unless your doctor tells you to.
- Do not try to remove the wax from your ears yourself if you have a damaged eardrum or a foreign object is stuck in your ear.
Discuss the removal of the excess wax with your doctor. If you have too much wax in your ears and you don't want to try to remove it yourself, your doctor can perform a simple treatment to clean your ears. Ask your doctor if he or she can remove your wax with a curette (a curved instrument designed to scrape wax from the ear canal) or rinse it with warm water.
- Your doctor may also prescribe medicated ear drops to help remove excess wax from your ear. Carefully follow the directions on the product packaging as it can damage your eardrum and ear canal if used incorrectly.

Method 3 of 3: Avoid common mistakes

Only use cotton swabs to clean your ears superficially. You can use cotton swabs to wipe wax from your outer ear, but stitch no cotton swabs in your ear canal. The tissue in your ear canal is very delicate. You can easily damage your ear canal if you hit the tissue near your eardrum with a cotton swab.
- Cotton swabs also push the wax deeper into your ear, which can clog, damage and irritate your ears.
Do not use ear candles. In such treatment, a cone-shaped device is inserted into the ear and a candle is lit at the other end. This should create a vacuum that will pull wax and other debris out of the ear. However, ear candling doesn't work at all and can also cause a variety of injuries and ear problems, including:
- Bleeding ears
- Ruptured eardrum
- Burns to the face, scalp, or ear canal, or burned hair
Warnings: Ear candles can push the wax deeper into your ear canal, just like when you use cotton buds incorrectly. This can clog your ears.
Do not force liquids into your ear. Doctors can do this, but it is better not to do this yourself. Fluids injected forcibly into the ear canal can get behind the eardrum and cause an ear infection or damage the inner ear.
- Use a pipette, cotton ball, or balloon syringe when rinsing your ears and gently pour the liquid into your ear drop by drop.
- Do not pour liquid into your ear if you have a ruptured eardrum or tubes in your ears.

Tips

Only use ear drops if your doctor recommends or prescribes them.
Do not pick your ears, as there can be bacteria on your hands that can make you more likely to get an ear infection.
If you want to remove wax from a baby, it's best to see a doctor instead of using home remedies.
See your doctor if you have treated your ears at home for a week and you still feel like they are full of wax.
Do not insert cotton swabs further into your ear than the narrow opening of your ear canal. Your eardrum can be damaged if you accidentally push wax or the cotton swab itself against your eardrum.