Why is earwax called cerumen? Why does wax form in the ears and what is it for?

Earwax

Sulfur is produced by the sulfur glands of the external auditory canal. When dead cells, hairs and other waste products are added to this secretion, earwax is ready! This cunning yellow-brown substance serves to lubricate and clean the ear canals, and also protects the hearing organ from all kinds of bacteria, fungi and other evil spirits.

So what should it be normally, and what type of earwax should you sound the alarm about? Let's figure it out!

1. Excessively dry earwax
   Excessive dryness of earwax can be explained by the insufficient presence of fats in the body and their futile production by the sebaceous glands. In this case, doctors recommend using any vegetable oil when cleaning the ears. Dry earwax can be a symptom of skin problems, in which excessive dry skin is a typical syndrome.
2. Gray earwax
   If, while cleaning your ears, the cotton swab acquires a gray tint, and no other accompanying symptoms are noted, most likely it is common dust. There is no need to be afraid; this is a completely typical situation for city residents.

   If the unusual shade of earwax is accompanied by itching, and the earwax itself becomes brittle, then most likely you are faced with eczema. In any case, self-medication will not lead to any good!

3. Yellow, wet and sticky sulfur
   This type of earwax is the most common and indicates healthy functioning of the hearing system. By the way, whether the sulfur will be dry or wet is determined by genetics.

   For example, most Asians have moderately dry sulfur, but Caucasians are most often yellow, rather moist and sticky. Scientists claim that this difference is caused by climatic conditions

   , in which this or that race lived and evolved.

   Read also:  Blown ear: what can you do yourself?
4. Dark and dense sulfur
   Dark brown and dense sulfur is by no means a reason to worry ahead of time, although it is an unpleasant sight. Quite dark-colored earwax may be the result of overproduction of secretions caused by stress.

   Also, a similar shade of sulfur may indicate its long stay in the external auditory canal, and its color is due to prolonged contact with oxygen.

5. White earwax
   White earwax may indicate insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. A short course of vitamin therapy - and the color of sulfur, as well as the general condition of the body, will return to normal!
6. Wax with an unpleasant odor
   An unpleasant odor from ear secretions is a reason to immediately visit an ENT doctor. This unpleasant symptom may be a sign of a fungal or bacterial infection, and may also be a companion to otitis media - inflammation of the middle ear.
7. Earwax with traces of blood
   Traces of blood on the ear stick during cleaning may indicate a traumatic injury.
   perforation of the eardrum
   . However, such a situation will be accompanied by sharp, sudden pain during hygienic cleaning. In this case, you should immediately visit an ENT specialist to provide professional assistance.

   In other cases, the presence of blood may be a consequence of trauma to the covering of the external auditory canal (scratches from low-quality or homemade ear cleaning products).

8. Dark brown or black sulfur
   This frightening color of the secretion may indicate stress, or be a sign of the presence of an infectious disease. However, the latter will not be limited only to the unusual coloring of sulfur - there is pain, itching, and an unpleasant odor. We recommend visiting a specialist!

By the way, did you know that cotton swabs are not the best device for cleaning your ears? As it turns out, instead of thoroughly cleaning the ear canal, you only push the wax plugs even deeper, and worse, you can injure the eardrum.

In a word, excessive hygiene with ear sticks makes your ears defenseless against infections that cause inflammation. Most doctors say that it is quite enough to wipe the auricle with a damp cloth from time to time, removing the wax that comes out naturally.

Remember that sulfur is not a problem

until it accumulates in the external auditory canal in excessive quantities. In this case, you should drop a few drops of oil or hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal to help the secretions leave the ear canal naturally. Be healthy!

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Wax is formed constantly and constantly normally and is removed from the ear canal during processes such as swallowing, chewing, and yawning. At the same time, it moves to the external auditory canal and removes bacteria and dust particles, i.e. cleanses the ear canal from various contaminants.

What causes liquid flow or the reasons for the appearance of dry, types of atypical

The darkening of sulfur itself does not cause any pathological changes.

But if, at the same time as this phenomenon, frequent nosebleeds are observed, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Since together these two symptoms may indicate a serious illness - Randu-Osler syndrome. This is a serious disease that is inherited.

This syndrome is characterized by inferiority of the vascular walls and the development of bleeding .

Sulfur is considered atypical if its color is deviated from the norm. This includes black, red, dark brown, white, excessively dry or too liquid secretion.

The black color of the secretion indicates infection by a fungus or other pathogenic microorganism, for example, Giardia. If the cause of the pathology is a fungus, then the patient experiences secondary symptoms:

• severe itching;
• sleep disturbance.

The black sphere can also indicate protein degeneration of the body. This color may also be caused by blood clots associated with sulfur.

It is worth paying special attention, and if the blood is black with clots, this indicates bleeding or perforation of the eardrum.

Gray secretion is a sign of high dust pollution in the area.
This color is typical mainly for children living in big cities. Red sulfur is a symptom of bleeding. For example, minor damage or scratch.

The red color spectrum may also be due to medication - the antibiotic Rifamycin, prescribed to treat inflammation of the middle ear.

The dark brown color is not a pathology, but a signal that the ear canal is clogged with all sorts of debris and dirty. If the color changes sharply from light to dark, then you should go for an examination.

White discharge from the ears indicates a deficiency of a number of certain microelements and vitamins, for example, iron, copper.

The production of sulfur, whose consistency resembles thick sour cream, indicates an extremely high degree of vitamin deficiency. A course of vitamins and iron supplements prescribed only by a doctor will help solve the problem.

Yellow wax with white clots indicates purulent processes in the ear. Additionally, high temperatures are possible.

Treatment is prescribed exclusively by a doctor, as there is a need to prescribe antibiotics.

Dry ear secretions are considered an indicator of skin diseases - dermatitis, skin emphysema.

The strong viscosity of this sulfur indicates a lack of animal fats or genetic changes. Problems can be solved by adjusting your diet.

Liquid sulfur is also considered a deviation, and indicates insufficient functioning of the sulfur glands or excessive work of the sweat glands.

The low viscosity of such a secretion indicates a strong inflammatory process, a general high temperature, traumatic brain injury or concussion.

At the first signs of liquid secretion, you should immediately contact a specialist to avoid further possible complications.

Dangerous hygiene

Improper hygiene of the ear canal is the most common cause of the formation and accumulation of wax in the ears.

There is an outer membranous-cartilaginous part of the ear canal and a more deeply located bone part, between which there is an isthmus. Earwax can form only in the membranous-cartilaginous ear canal, but if hygienic procedures are carried out incorrectly, it is possible to move the wax with a cotton swab or other device into the area of ​​a narrower isthmus, from which it is unlikely that it can be removed on its own. In this case, earwax often accumulates and a cerumen plug occurs.

Hygienic procedures should be carried out constantly, but not in the ear canal. Those. You need to clean the outer ear and the area around the external auditory canal. Thus, the possibility of damage to the skin of the ear canal and eardrum and the possibility of earwax moving deeper will be excluded.

Where does it come from and why is it needed?

The human ear consists of two parts: the outer one – membranous-cartilaginous, and the inner one – bone.

Sulfur is formed exclusively in the outer part , where a large number of ceruminous glands (sebaceous and sulfur glands), responsible for the production of secretions, are located.

The auditory canal contains up to 2 thousand glands. Normally, earwax is yellow-brown in color, has a waxy consistency, and 10 to 15 mg of the substance is produced per month.

This secret has a rather complex composition. In it you can find:

• fats (lipids);
• proteins (proteins);
• epithelium exfoliated;
• enzymes;
• keratin flakes;
• immunoglobulins;
• glycopeptides;
• hyaluronic acid;
• cholesterol;
• other organic substances.

The wax of a woman's ear is acidic in relation to the wax of a man's ear.

The color and consistency of sulfur largely depends on nationality.
Representatives of the Asian continent have dry earwax.

And among representatives of the African continent and Europeans it is wet or liquid.

The normal pH of the sulfur environment is 5, but he says it’s about 4-5. Such indicators indicate that pathogenic microflora will not be able to develop.

In its normal state, sulfur is practically odorless . Particularly dangerous is the appearance of a rotten fishy smell and a specific smell of rot. These are signs of a serious infection developing.

Sulfur is removed independently, through chewing movements of the lower jaw, that is, chewing food or talking.

But you shouldn’t forget about ear hygiene. Doctors unanimously talk about the negative effects of cotton swabs on the ears. It is necessary to wash only the ears and 1 centimeter of the outer auditory tube.

The use of additional products can damage the eardrum and lead to complete deafness.

Pathologies

Also, the cause of the formation and accumulation of wax in the ears can be its excessive secretion as a result of inflammatory processes, such as: - , - eczema, - high cholesterol.

Another reason is a disruption in the process of removing wax as a result of the anatomical narrowness or tortuosity of the ear canal, with increased hair growth in the ear canal area.

Often, sulfur is formed by workers who are in the process of carrying out their activities in workshops where there is an accumulation of gas, dust or, conversely, high humidity, in which case even a small plug swells under the influence of moisture, and the presence of an ear plug.

Depending on the type of ear plug, the doctor chooses a method for removing it; self-removal is highly not recommended due to the possibility of damage to the eardrum and the occurrence of irreversible processes of hearing loss or reduction. However, for complete ear hygiene, it is recommended to use not only cotton swabs, but also liquid septic tanks intended for the ears.

The accumulation of large amounts of wax in a child’s ear canals often causes logical concern among parents. It must be said that there is always a small amount of wax in the ears: this secretion is constantly secreted, but sometimes there can be too much of it. And sometimes this sign indicates quite dangerous diseases. In this article we will look at the question of why a child develops a lot of wax in his ears, what this symptom can mean, and how to deal with it.

Why is little sulfur released?

Many people are puzzled why they do not have wax in their ears or it is produced in minimal quantities. Indeed, the absence of a substance can cause the development of certain diseases. If there is no earwax, many factors can contribute to this, for example:

1. Features of the body. Various congenital anomalies can lead to the fact that it will be produced a lot or a little.
2. This can happen in the absence of proper hygiene. Frequent use of cotton swabs can cause the wax glands to stop functioning properly.
3. Injuries.
4. The development of a disease such as otosclerosis.
5. The development of a tumor results in changes in the structure of cells.
6. Abuse of bad habits.

If there is very little sulfur, you need to undergo appropriate treatment, which includes medications and physical therapy. Sometimes additional diagnostics may be carried out, since pathology may develop due to a fungus.

The absence of sulfur, or a small amount of it, can lead to a person encountering unpleasant complications. The dirt will linger, and in advanced cases, an infection may even develop.

Description of the problem

It should be noted that the production of a small amount of sulfur secretion is a necessary condition for healthy hearing organs. But when the amount of this substance exceeds the permissible limits, this can already indicate disorders and even pathological, inflammatory processes in the auditory organs.

Sulfur glands
are also sweat glands, but modified.
And they form their own secret, characteristic only for them. Sulfur contains substances with a bactericidal effect that cleanse the internal cavity of the ear canals and protect them from germs.

Sulfur is, in fact, an organic mass consisting of the secretion of the auditory glands, sebum and dead epidermal cells. There is usually less wax in children's ears than in adults. Although recent research in this area has led scientists to the following conclusion: the amount of ear secretion produced depends more on the individual properties of the body than on age. That is, sometimes the same amount of sulfur can be considered normal for a child as for an adult. If this is typical for his body.

Sulfur begins to be produced a few days after the birth of the baby, and then its formation does not stop throughout the entire period of a person’s life. The function of sulfur secretion is to protect the delicate and delicate internal auditory organs from aggressive external influences.

Sulfur cleanses the ear canals and at the same time prevents pathogenic microbes and infections from penetrating inside.

The consistency of sulfur resembles ordinary ointment and has a reddish, “honey” tint. Over the course of a person’s life, the consistency, color, quantity and even smell of sulfur can change depending on health, external conditions, and internal reasons. Its dark shade may indicate that the child does not spend much time outdoors, and its too thick consistency may indicate that the baby’s lipid synthesis is impaired.

Excessively liquid sulfur often indicates that the child’s mother has overdone it with hygiene procedures - and sulfur is formed at an accelerated pace, without having time to acquire its typical consistency. By the way, liquid sulfur sometimes also arouses suspicion among parents: they think there is too much secretion. But in fact, this is the usual amount, just very “diluted”.

In the video - what to do when a child has a lot of wax in the ears:

Causes of increased sulfur secretion

The standard, normal amount of sulfur secretion for a child is 20 mg per month. If the norm is slightly exceeded, it is considered acceptable. But certainly sulfur should not form too quickly - so that you don’t even have time to clean it out. Increased formation of sulfur secretion leads to headaches.

Moreover, the headache will hurt not only in the ear area, but also in the back of the head, crown, and front part. Let's find out why sometimes a child produces too much sulfur.

As we have already figured out, one of the most common reasons is too thorough hygiene procedures.

Sometimes the reason for the formation of an increased amount of sulfur is banal and simple: unfavorable atmospheric and weather conditions. Thus, dust, dirt, smog outside the window, as well as neglect to ventilate the room, often lead to increased secretion formation in the body’s attempts to protect the internal auditory organs.

What can be done and what medications to use when pulsating noise appears in the left ear:

Sulfur plugs cause this phenomenon in most cases. Inaccurate ear cleaning or the natural narrowness of the ear canals lead to the formation of wax plugs. It is better to deal with them in the doctor’s office. By the way, once a sulfur plug has formed, it does not show itself for some time.

But after a while it may appear as:

• described discharge from the ears;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• decreased auditory perception;
• nausea, staggering when walking (due to malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus).

For those who want to learn more about why there is squeaking in the ears, you should follow the link and read the contents of this

If you notice that your child often scratches his ears, you should find out more and what can be done about this problem.

At the end of the water procedures, thoroughly blot the child’s ears with the tip of a towel, without going deeper into the ear canals. This measure will prevent water from accumulating in the ear canals.

We looked at the features of the abundant release of wax from a child’s ears. As you can see, the causes of this symptom can be different: from harmless to very dangerous. Therefore, be sure to show your baby to the doctor: under professional supervision, treatment will proceed at a much faster pace, leaving no complications or consequences.

Sulfur is secreted in the ear canal by the ceruminal glands. This is a very important and necessary secret for the normal functioning of the body. Under normal conditions, it is removed from the ear on its own during the movement of the jaw bones, but sometimes a lot of wax forms in the ears, and this causes discomfort to the person. Let's look at why this happens and how this phenomenon can be prevented.

A lot of wax forms in the ears - reasons and proper cleaning

› Symptoms ›

The process of cleaning our ears is a completely ordinary process that we have been accustomed to since childhood.

Experts recommend performing a hygienic procedure at the entrance to the ear canal after taking water procedures: as a rule, this frequency is quite enough to promptly remove excess secreted masses and prevent them from accumulating. But in some people, secretion production by the glands occurs too actively. Why can there be a lot of wax in the ears?

Features of sulfur production

Before examining the reasons why there is a lot of wax in the ears, you should study why it is formed.

A specific secretion is produced by special glands lining mainly the anterior part of the ear canal. On average, a person produces 15-20 mg of wax in each ear per month. What is it for?

1. First of all, the sulfur masses covering the surface of the ear canal serve to protect the ear from the invasion of pathogenic flora. The composition of the secretion includes antibacterial elements that prevent infection from reaching the eardrum or causing inflammation in the outer part of the hearing organ.
2. The sulfur that covers the ear canal includes the production of the sebaceous glands. Thanks to this component, the produced masses serve to moisturize the sensitive skin of the ear canal.
3. Sulfur masses moving from the eardrum to the exit of the ear canal cleanse the ear canal of the “garbage” present in it: keratinized skin particles, dust, hairs, etc. In addition, the viscous secretion maximally delays the smallest elements entering the ear canal from outside. Thus, dust, penetrating into the ear canal, settles on sticky wax and does not reach the eardrum.

So, the production of sulfur is an important process that serves to clean, protect and moisturize our hearing organ.

Nature has installed a self-cleaning mechanism in human ears - in healthy people, it gradually moves from the eardrum to the exit of the ear canal during chewing and swallowing. For optimal hygiene, it is enough to remove the accumulated masses at the beginning of the passage with a cotton swab.

But if the volume of secretion produced exceeds the norm, the natural mechanism is not enough to clean the passage.

If its viscosity is significant, an ear plug may form inside the canal, which should be removed in the otolaryngologist's office.

And if the secretion is too liquid, there is a risk that it will be actively released from the ear canal. What causes a lot of wax to accumulate in the ears?

Reasons leading to excess sulfur production

Regardless of the density of the secretion produced, several factors can influence its excessive production.

1. High cholesterol. The composition of the blood directly affects the condition of all human organs - and the activity of the sulfur glands, which begin to produce an increased volume of secretion. In addition to excess sulfur production, elevated cholesterol levels will be indicated by yellowing of the skin and painful sensations in the legs.
2. Dermatitis. This skin disease can be caused by an allergic reaction or infection of the skin lining the ear canal. Red spots appear inside the canal, and the sulfur glands, in response to the pathological condition, begin to actively produce secretions, trying to extinguish the infection with the help of antibacterial components.
3. Dust. If a person works in very dusty rooms, a fine suspension constantly penetrates the ear canal and sticks to the viscous secretion lining the surface. The presence of a large amount of dust in sulfur masses in itself significantly increases their volume. In addition, with normal functioning of the glands, the increased viscosity of the secretion in the ear canal provokes even greater production, which is why a lot of wax is formed in the ears.
4. Poor hygiene. If a person cleans the ear canal too thoroughly from sulfur masses, the glands in response to this begin to more actively produce secretions.
5. Stress. The condition associated with the release of adrenaline into the blood activates absolutely all glands - sebaceous, sweat and sulfur. Therefore, during stressful periods, a person may develop a lot of wax in the ears, but when the psychological state normalizes, the work of the glands also stabilizes.
6. Headphones and hearing aids. The introduction of foreign objects into the auditory canal irritates the nerve receptors. In an effort to rid the ear of foreign bodies, the sulfur glands begin to actively produce secretions. But since the exit from the ear canal is blocked, sulfur accumulates inside it, and this, in turn, leads to the formation of a cerumen plug.
7. Inflammation. If inflammation occurs in areas of the middle or outer ear, this leads to the flow of lymph and blood to the damaged areas, which stimulates the active work of the cerumen glands.

What to do?

In some cases, increased wax production is normal - for example, when there is a significant amount of dust in the air or when using hearing aids and headphones. If the reason for the formation of abundant wax in the ear is some kind of disease, it should be treated under the supervision of appropriate specialists.

• Otitis, which provokes the active work of the sulfur glands, requires complex therapy under the supervision of an otolaryngologist;
• dermatitis localized in the ear canal also requires professional treatment by an ENT specialist or dermatologist;
• If the reason why you have a lot of wax in your ear is due to high cholesterol, you should visit your GP and follow their recommendations on medication and diet.

But in most cases, the “culprit” for excessive production of wax in the ears in adults is an excessive passion for hygiene procedures. So how should these activities be carried out correctly?

How to properly clean your ears?

Properly organized hygiene measures will help to avoid increased secretion of wax and the formation of ear plugs.

1. It is better to clean the ears from the formed wax after water procedures - at such moments it is very soft and can be easily removed.
2. Wax should be removed from the ears only at the entrance to the ear canal - inserting a cotton swab deeply is not necessary and even dangerous.
3. For cleaning adults, you can use regular cotton swabs; for caring for children's ears, it is better to use cotton swabs or industrial swabs with limiters. Do not insert matches, hairpins, screwdrivers or other objects not intended for this purpose into the ear canal.
4. During the procedure, you should make light rotational movements on the surface of the skin, so that the sulfur masses stick to the cotton wool and do not push into the ear canal.
5. There is no need to clean your ears every day, especially if the increased production of wax is caused by excessive hygiene procedures.

Why does a lot of wax accumulate in the ears? Link to main publication

Source: https://netotita.ru/simptomatika/v-ushah-skaplivaetsya-mnogo-sery.html

Why you can’t remove sulfur completely

Before you start getting nervous, you need to make sure that you really have a lot of earwax coming out of your ears. In most cases, people exaggerate the scale of the problem because they believe that these discharges should not be visible at all. However, this is not true, because sulfur performs very important tasks:

• cleanses ears of dirt and dust;
• moisturizes the thin skin of the ear canal;
• protects against the proliferation of bacteria and fungi.

It is for this reason that you should not get carried away with excessive removal of secretions. It’s a paradox, but the more often and more intensively you clean out sulfur, the more it will be produced.

The body quickly reacts to the lack of important components and begins to produce them at an even greater speed. For an adult, it is quite enough to wash the auricle and the outer part of the ear canal with warm soapy water while taking a shower or bath.

Unpleasant odor from the ear

For some people, earwax normally has a specific smell. This may be due to metabolic characteristics and hormonal changes. During adolescence or when menopause begins, the smell may intensify. Sometimes sulfur begins to smell when it stagnates in the canal, if for some reason its secretion is impaired. In this case, it is worth cleaning your ears from wax using special preparations.

You should consult a doctor if:

1. Earwax smells fishy. This often indicates a staph infection.
2. A putrid odor emanates from the ear and from the discharge. It is a clear sign of suppuration.

Sulfur plays an important role in the human body. Its normal separation helps clean the ear canal, protects against inflammation and allergies. This is especially important in childhood. After all, a child is more susceptible to otitis media than an adult, and endures them more severely.

Causes of overworking glands

Only an otolaryngologist can find out exactly why there is a lot of wax in the ears of an adult after a thorough examination. If you notice the slightest changes in the functioning of your body, this is a direct signal that you need to visit a doctor.

There may be several reasons for excessive secretion, and based on them, the doctor makes recommendations for further care or treatment. Let's look at them in more detail and find out how to protect yourself from such violations.

Inflammation of the middle ear

The special type of feeding of newborns, as well as their anatomical features, are predisposing factors in the development of inflammation of the middle ear. When feeding is done in a horizontal position, the risk of formula entering the Eustachian tube increases. This can lead to stagnation in the auditory tube, its infection and, as a result, the development of inflammation of the middle ear.

Ear odor in a child caused by otitis media is the most dangerous cause of the development of this symptom.

Catarrhal inflammation is not accompanied by the presence of odor from the ear, and there is no exudate in the external auditory canal with this course of otitis. Purulent inflammation of the middle ear is characterized by the presence of fluid in the external auditory canal. In addition, a child may experience a characteristic unpleasant odor from the ear, the causes of which lie in the purulent nature of the exudate.

You can suspect purulent otitis media by the presence of additional signs:

1. The general condition of the patient is impaired. The child is irritated, rushes about in bed, turns his head, screams;
2. The patient refuses to eat;
3. There is an increase in body temperature.

Considering that the smell from the baby’s ear began to be observed several hours or days after the onset of catarrhal symptoms, the reason for the development of this symptom becomes obvious. It consists in the development of complications of ARVI, inflammation in the ear.

At the same time, additional symptoms come to the fore and, above all, pain in the ear. Since the child, due to his age, cannot express complaints, an objective sign of the presence of pain syndrome is increased pain when pressing on the tragus. As a result of such actions, the child screams. The presence of a combination of these signs is a reason to consult the child with an otolaryngologist in the near future. Suppuration is an absolute indication for the prescription of antibiotics, both in the form of ear drops and systemic action.

Preventive measures

If a lot of wax is produced in the ears of an adult, this may indicate various disorders in the body. It is quite possible to prevent excessive work of the ceruminal glands.

To do this, you need to carefully monitor your health and follow these simple rules:

1. Avoid freezing your head and ears and always wear hats that are appropriate for the season.
2. Limit exposure to dusty areas.
3. Carry out all hygiene procedures carefully.
4. Seek medical help promptly.

To understand why a lot of wax forms in the ears, you need to visit an otolaryngologist. Only a doctor can accurately determine the cause of the malfunction of the ceruminal glands and give the correct recommendations to eliminate the problem.

This change should not be ignored under any circumstances, as it can signal serious problems in the body. Seek help from specialists in a timely manner, this will help prevent serious illnesses.

Sometimes, at first glance, some functions of the human body seem completely useless. Actually this is not true. The body is a complex mechanism in which everything is interconnected and nothing is superfluous. For example, earwax discharge. It would seem like an everyday and completely unnoticed process, but many would be amazed if they found out how important it is.

The formation of earwax is a normal physiological process that is extremely necessary for the body. Sulfur is secreted by the ceruminal glands, which are located in the ear canal. Under normal conditions, this substance can be removed from the ear on its own during jaw movement, coughing or sneezing.

Earwax is a semi-liquid secretion that accumulates in the ear canal. The auditory canal consists of the part of the outer ear, that is, the part that comes into direct contact with the environment. The canal is covered with thin skin, the thickness of which is no more than 2 mm. It contains the sebaceous and sulfur glands that secrete ear secretions. This substance mixes with dead skin cells, which is how earwax is formed.

Earwax is essential for the health of the ears and the entire body. Because all dust particles, bacteria, including pathogenic ones, spores of pathogenic fungi, viruses - all this ends up in a lump of earwax, which prevents them from penetrating inside.

Sometimes, much more wax can build up in the ear than is necessary. The result of this process is blockage of the ear canal with wax.

Why does a lot of wax form in an adult's ears?

The ceruminal glands are responsible for the secretion of wax in the ear canals.

Under normal conditions, when there is no inflammation or injury in the ear, and the person himself does not seek to get rid of this secretion, the excess is eliminated independently during chewing food and other jaw movements.

Sometimes too much wax builds up in one ear. It begins to cause discomfort and contribute to hearing loss. This is worrying and causes a visit to the doctor.

Causes of Excessive Earwax

In fact, sulfur performs a lot of tasks to protect the ear from negative external and internal influences. It moisturizes the ear canal, traps particles of dust and dirt, and serves as a measure of disinfection and protection of the ears from harmful microorganisms and foreign objects. The reasons for increased secretion can be a variety of factors, including the following:

• chronic dermatitis, which can also cause a change in consistency;
• excess cholesterol levels;
• wearing hearing aids, Bluetooth headsets, headphones;
• otitis media and other inflammatory processes affecting the ear;
• too frequent or improper cleaning of earwax;
• long stay in dusty and polluted rooms.

Important! Also, recent research by scientists has shown that frequent stress and experiences, which activate an increase in the work of all glands of the body, lead to increased secretion of sulfur secretion.

Why does more wax accumulate in one ear?

Sometimes people complain to the doctor that much more wax accumulates in one ear than in the other. This can be caused by several reasons:

• an inflammatory process occurs in one ear;
• one auditory canal is anatomically narrower and deeper than the other;
• due to improper hygiene procedures;
• injury to one ear.

Important! Using a cotton swab or other cleaning tool incorrectly can cause more wax to accumulate in one ear than the other.

Is it possible to remove wax from the ear?

If there is a lot of wax in the ears of an adult and the causes of this condition are known, for example, working in harmful conditions or frequent use of headphones, then it must be cleaned out regularly, and not only when discomfort and other problems occur. This must be done very carefully and correctly:

1. Do not use sharp objects, pins or hairpins for removal, as they can damage the thin skin lining the ear canal or the eardrum.
2. Using a cotton swab to remove excess wax is a bad idea. Firstly, this instrument is not sterile. And if used incorrectly, cotton swabs contribute to the formation of plugs and injury to the ear. The cotton wool can come off the hard base and get stuck in the passage, and the stick can injure the ear. It is advisable to use rollers - rollers made of sterile cotton wool, tightly rolled with clean hands.
3. You should not put a cotton swab or a cotton swab deep inside your ear. The glands that secrete secretions are located near the entrance to the auditory canal. But you can’t get the wax plug out with a cotton swab.
4. Some people recommend lightly moistening a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide for greater effectiveness. It will remove excess wax without damaging the ear canal.
5. It is imperative to carry out hygienic procedures not only to clean the ear canal, but also the entire auricle.

Important! It is impossible to completely eliminate earwax from the ears. This is a very important secret for health, created by nature to protect the body.

Should I see a doctor?

In many cases, abundant formation in the ear canal is a natural process. It is necessary to consult a doctor about this issue only if it causes discomfort or is accompanied by other symptoms of ear diseases:

• painful sensations and itching in the ear canal;
• hearing loss;
• crackling, crunching and other sounds in the ears;
• if there is unusual discharge from the ears, such as pus or blood;
• nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache;
• redness of the ears, pain when pressing behind them;
• congestion.

Important! You should immediately seek medical help if an insect or foreign object gets into your ear.

Treatment

If your ears regularly release a lot of wax, there is no need to panic. When this condition causes discomfort, it is better not to try to eliminate it yourself, but to contact a professional. The most common problem that occurs due to the abundance of sulfur in the ear canal is the formation of cerumen plugs. A specialist can solve this problem quickly without the need for hospitalization.

First, the doctor instills a special solution (sometimes ordinary hydrogen peroxide) into the ear. The liquid softens the plug without damaging the ear canal or eardrum. After 10-15 minutes, using a special syringe with warm water, the doctor will slowly remove the wax plug from the ear under pressure. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated again. Removing plugs is absolutely painless.

Important! If a specialist offers to remove wax plugs, do not refuse and do not be afraid. The process itself lasts less than half an hour, and the person feels only slight discomfort due to ear congestion and a slight tingling feeling. But finding traffic jams can lead to serious complications: hearing impairment and inflammatory processes.

Prevention

A lot of wax in the ears of an adult or child is a factor that can cause anxiety. To prevent excessive secretion production by the ceruminal glands, it is enough, according to experts, to adhere to the following rules:

1. Try to limit the time you spend in dusty and dirty areas.
2. Clean your ears properly and regularly to remove excess wax, but do not try to get too deep, as this can lead to serious consequences.
3. Clean your ears with a rotating motion so that it remains on the ear pad or cotton swab.
4. Wear a hat in winter and prevent your head from freezing.
5. Do not go outside with wet ears, for example, after swimming in a pool or taking a bath.
6. Try to use headphones as little as possible or choose the most comfortable models.

If a large amount of wax appears in one or both ears, reconsider your lifestyle.

If following our recommendations, coupled with an active and healthy lifestyle, maintaining good hygiene and a balanced diet does not give the desired effect, then seek help from an otolaryngologist.

This should also be done immediately if any disturbing symptoms appear, except for the abundance of wax secreted, for example, shooting or aching pain, the feeling that an insect or other foreign object has entered the ear, or injuries of varying degrees of severity.

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Causes of excess sulfur production

Why does a lot of wax form in the ears? This question is asked to the ENT specialist by all patients who come to remove wax plugs. If there is a lot of wax in the ears, this may indicate the presence of various diseases. If the viscosity of this secretion is reduced, it will flow out of the ear, creating a lot of inconvenience for the person. With increased viscosity, a hard plug may form. When there is a lot of wax in the ears, the reasons may be the following:

Whatever the reason for the increased secretion of sulfur, you should definitely consult a doctor and follow his recommendations.

Why does the consistency and color of sulfur change?

In most cases, this indicates that some kind of disease is developing. If you suddenly notice that there is black wax in your ears, then most likely this indicates a malfunction of the blood vessels. You need to treat the problem extremely carefully, especially if there are accompanying symptoms in the form of nosebleeds.

A milky yellow color indicates the presence of purulent diseases. When white clots appear, the likelihood of the presence of the disease only increases. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the pathology.

Another reason why black wax may appear is the presence of blood clots in the secretion or dust getting into the ears. There is no need to take any measures in this case. If you are bothered by itching or pain, go to the hospital.

Liquid sulfur is not a pathology, which cannot be said about dry sulfur. It may indicate ear injuries or the development of an inflammatory process. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo an examination.

Prevention

In order not to force the ceruminal glands to work in active mode, several rules should be followed, especially for children:

• try not to overcool your head and ears;
• perform ear cleaning procedures correctly;
• stay in dusty rooms as little as possible;
• seek medical help in a timely manner.

Since babies are very dependent on adults, parents are responsible for the condition of the child’s ears, and, accordingly, for his health.

Removing wax plug

There are different ways to remove a cork. The most common method used is ear rinsing. The procedure is quite simple, so it can be performed by a doctor of any specialization. Rinsing is carried out using a Janet syringe. It is filled with warm water and the stream is directed to the upper wall of the outer ear canal. Sulfur masses along with water are removed outside. The jet should not be too powerful, otherwise the eardrum may be damaged.

To remove a dense sulfur plug, up to 3 rinses are necessary. If the plug still remains in place, the doctor prescribes special drops to soften it. After regular use of drops, rinsing the ear gives a positive result. When using drops, there is a temporary deterioration in hearing, as the sulfur plug increases in size. After the wax is released, the doctor re-examines the patient’s ear canal.

The dry technique is used when washing is contraindicated. In this case, the sulfur plug is removed with a special hook. This procedure can only be performed by an otolaryngologist. To remove wax in a child’s ears, a medicinal method is often used, for example, A-Cerumen drops. They need to be instilled into the ear 2 times a day, 1 ml. After applying the drops, you need to lie on your side, with the affected ear facing up. After a few minutes, the wax will dissolve and flow out of the ear. After this, the ear is washed with boiled water or saline.

A good way to prevent wax plugs is to properly clean your ears.

Cotton swabs can only be used to clean the ears. If it is still necessary to clean the outer part of the auditory canal, the stick is inserted shallowly into it and begins to rotate slowly. You cannot move it forward or backward, otherwise the sulfur will get on the eardrum. The ears can be cleaned every day, but it is better to wash the ear canal once a week. Sulfur contains cholesterol, its percentage depends on the amount of this substance in the human blood. Patients with high cholesterol levels must follow a special diet and take appropriate medications.

If you use headphones or hearing aids, or often spend time in humid or dusty areas, use ear drops periodically. For prevention, they are instilled into the ears 2 times a week. Treat diseases such as otitis media, dermatitis and eczema in a timely manner.

How to properly clean your ears

To prevent large amounts of wax from accumulating in your ears and blockage of the ear canal, you need to systematically and correctly clean your ears. Recommendations for this procedure apply to both adults and children.

1. You need to clean your ears only after water treatments, at this point the wax is softened and will be easily removed. To do this, you can use cotton swabs, but if you have to clean a child’s ear, it is better to give preference to homemade cotton swabs. Under no circumstances should you clean your ears with hairpins, barrettes or other traumatic objects.
2. When cleaning, the movement should be rotational so that the resulting lump does not penetrate inside the ear, but comes out.
3. During the procedure, the auricle needs to be slightly pulled forward and upward, so the ear canal is straightened.
4. If the ear cleaning procedure is not carried out after bathing, you can soften the wax using hydrogen peroxide.
5. If a plug appears in your ear, you should not remove it yourself; it is better to consult a doctor.

Increased production of earwax may be a symptom of some disorder in the body, which in no case should be left to chance.

Be healthy!

Earwax

- not just a substance that from time to time strangely accumulates in the ear canal to cleanse and protect the auditory canals, it is the most marker of your health! This idea may seem strange to you, but next time during hygienic cleaning, do not rush to throw away the ear stick, because it can tell a lot about your health...

"So simple!"

will tell you what
the color of earwax
can tell about your health and why this symptom cannot be ignored. Keep your eyes open!

Functions of sulfur

Many people simply do not understand why earwax is needed and what functions it can perform. We need earwax for the following:

1. Performing a protective function. The substance prevents bacteria, dirt and other things from entering the ears.
2. Dirt does not accumulate in the ears, since the substance performs a cleansing function.
3. Earwax is essential for hydration. The substance actively lubricates our eardrum, so the ear canal does not dry out.

Scientists have long been able to prove that nothing happens in the human body just like that. Earwax should not be cleaned out very often. Only the part that comes out on its own and is located outside the ear canal is removed.

Interventions of this kind can lead to damage to the eardrum, thus reducing the protective functions. As a result, people are faced with many unpleasant diseases, such as otitis media.

Earwax

Sulfur is produced by the sulfur glands of the external auditory canal. When dead cells, hairs and other waste products are added to this secretion, earwax is ready! This cunning yellow-brown substance serves to lubricate and clean the ear canals, and also protects the hearing organ from all kinds of bacteria, fungi and other evil spirits.

So what should it be normally, and what type of earwax should you sound the alarm about? Let's figure it out!

By the way, did you know that cotton swabs are not the best device for cleaning your ears? As it turns out, instead of thoroughly cleaning the ear canal, you only push the wax plugs even deeper, and worse, you can injure the eardrum.

In a word, excessive hygiene with ear sticks makes your ears defenseless against infections that cause inflammation. Most doctors say that it is quite enough to wipe the auricle with a damp cloth from time to time, removing the wax that comes out naturally.

Remember that sulfur is not a problem

until it accumulates in the external auditory canal in excessive quantities. In this case, you should drop a few drops of oil or hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal to help the secretions leave the ear canal naturally. Be healthy!

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Cleaning your ears once every few days is a common hygiene rule that we were taught in childhood. But few people know that earwax not only performs a protective function, but can also tell about the general health of the entire body.

Use a Q-tip to check what color your earwax is and see if it's worth worrying about.

Gray sulfur

If your earwax has turned gray without any other symptoms, then there is no need to panic. Most likely it's just dust.

This color of sulfur is often found among residents of large cities where the air is too polluted.

Sulfur with traces of blood

If, while cleaning your ears, you notice traces of blood, be wary: this may indicate a perforated eardrum. The ear provides access to infections, which can cause otitis media and subsequently lead to hearing impairment. Therefore, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Brown sulfur

Abundant release of sulfur and darkening of its color indicate that the body has recently experienced great stress.

Therefore, try not to be nervous and spend the next few days in a calm environment.

Black sulfur

A one-time darkening of sulfur does not indicate any disease. But if you feel itching that only gets worse, you should immediately consult a doctor, since the black color of sulfur indicates the presence of a fungal infection.

White sulfur

White sulfur is a sign that your body lacks vitamins and minerals, namely iron and copper.

Therefore, introduce foods containing these substances into your diet, such as beans, oatmeal, peas, and buckwheat. Or take a special course of vitamins to make up for this deficiency.

Mysteries of earwax: why do we need it?

Image copyright Getty The wax in our ears is a strange thing. Why is it, what does it consist of? And is it true that it is needed to kill parasites? A BBC Future columnist seeks answers to these questions.

Whales never clean their ears. Year after year, sulfur accumulates there, from which you can read the entire story of their life, told in the language of fatty acids, alcohols and cholesterol.

A similar substance accumulates in the ear canals of many mammals, including humans.

True, our earwax is not so interesting. It won’t be possible to write a biography of a person based on it, because most of us regularly clean our ears (we’ll talk about this below).

However, behind this lowly substance there is high science.

• Seva Novgorodtsev's blog: what is earwax needed for?
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Earwax is produced only in the outer part of the ear canal, where there are from one to two thousand sebaceous glands (by the way, the same glands on the head provide natural lubrication of the hair) and modified sweat glands.

Hairs, dead skin cells and other waste products of the body are added to the resulting secretion - and earwax is ready.

For a long time, it was believed that this substance served primarily as a lubricant (at first it was even used in the manufacture of lip balms).

In addition, it was claimed to prevent insects from entering the human head through the ear canal.

And some even believe that earwax, among other things, is an antibiotic.

Image copyright Getty Image caption Some people's sulfur is wet and greasy, while some people's sulfur is drier and harder

In 1980, NIH researchers Tuu Ji Chai and Toby See Chai used a device they called a “sterile earwax grabber” to take samples of the substance from 12 people and mix them in an alcohol solution.

Bacteria were then placed into the resulting medium. It turned out that the solution kills 99% of certain strains of bacteria, including the influenza bacillus H. influenzae (which, oddly enough, does not cause influenza) and a strain of E. coli called K-12.

Other strains of E. coli, as well as streptococci and staphylococci, turned out to be more tenacious - the mortality rate of these bacteria under the influence of earwax ranged from 30% to 80%.

But it is clear that earwax had a bactericidal effect on all 10 types of bacteria participating in the study.

Similar results were obtained in 2011 in Germany. Scientists have found that earwax contains ten peptides that can prevent the development of bacteria and fungus.

According to researchers, infections in the outer part of the ear canal occur precisely due to a failure in the protective mechanism, the functioning of which depends on earwax.

The type of earwax is determined genetically

However, a study conducted in 2000 at the University of La Laguna in the Canary Islands (Spain) gave completely opposite results.

According to scientists, earwax had virtually no effect on staphylococci, and in most cases even promoted the proliferation of bacteria, including E. coli, apparently creating a rich nutrient medium for them.

And this is not the only study whose results cast doubt on the antimicrobial properties of earwax.

One detail helps shed light on the reason for such significant discrepancies in the conclusions drawn by scientists in these and other studies.

Experiments conducted in 1980 and 2011 used dry earwax, while in 2000, scientists chose to test the wet form.

It is completely unclear whether this difference actually affects the antimicrobial properties attributed to earwax, but the hypothesis seems tempting, especially since both types of wax consist of essentially the same ingredients.

However, if you haven't looked into your friends' ears to see what their earwax looks like, you'll probably be as surprised as I am to learn that there really are two types of earwax. To be frank and frank is like wet brimstone.

Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Using a syringe to rinse the ears can remove excess wax without risking damage to the eardrum

The type of earwax is determined genetically and comes down to a difference of one single letter in one single gene - ABCC11.

If at the beginning of the name of this gene there is an A, the person has dry sulfur, if G - wet (by the way, the smell of these two types is different).

Using earwax, scientists even tried to determine the directions of population migration in ancient times.

Descendants of Europeans and Africans tend to have moist sulfur, while East Asians tend to have dry and scaly sulfur.

In the Pacific Islands, Central and Asia Minor, and among the Native American and Inuit populations, there is a more even distribution of the two types.

Celsus advises “rinsing the ear with a beaver stream mixed with vinegar, bay oil and juice from the peel of young radishes or the juice of a wild cucumber with the addition of crushed rose leaves.”

However, for most of us, the most pressing problem regarding earwax is how to remove it.

Apparently, this issue has been on the agenda at least since the 1st century AD. e.

In his treatise De Medicina (“On Medicine”), the Roman physician Aulus Cornelius Celsus offers a number of methods for removing wax accumulated in the ear canals.

“If it is a crust,” he writes, apparently referring to dry sulfur, “heated vegetable oil is poured inside, mixed with either verdigris in honey or leek juice, or with a small amount of soda dissolved in honey.” wine." Wow!

Once the wax has loosened, it can be washed out of the ear with water. But “if it is dirt”—which apparently means a wet type of earwax—“vinegar with a little soda is introduced inside, and when the dirt has softened, the ear is washed out.”

In addition, Celsus advises “rinsing the ear with a beaver stream mixed with vinegar, bay oil and juice from the peel of young radishes or the juice of a wild cucumber with the addition of crushed rose leaves. Instilling the juice of unripe grapes with rose oil also gives good results for deafness.”

This recommendation sounds more like a recipe for a witch's potion than a quotation from a scientific treatise, but doctors to this day use almond or olive oil to soften the blockage of wax before attempting to remove it.

It must be said that for some people the problem of wax plugs is really so acute that medical intervention is required to solve it.

Image copyright Getty Image caption Doctors still use olive oil to loosen earwax

According to a 2004 analysis, about 2.3 million people in the UK see a doctor for this problem every year and about 4 million ears are treated.

Most often, wax plugs form in older people, children and people with learning disabilities.

Of course, this problem can lead to hearing loss, but also social isolation and even mild paranoia.

“Some patients with wax plugs,” the scientists write, “also have perforated eardrums.”

However, since earwax itself cannot damage the auditory membrane, it is tempting to conclude that patients inflict this injury on themselves, perhaps by attempting to remove the earwax themselves.

Due to the fact that using cotton swabs to remove plugs is risky - even for qualified doctors, in most cases some kind of emollient is used, followed by rinsing the ear.

However, doctors have differing opinions regarding the optimal softener and the benefits of rinsing as such.

In 2012, Anjali Vaidya and Diana Jay Madlon-Kaye, researchers at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Minnesota (USA), concluded that the use of earwax softeners, ear rinsing and other methods of manual removal of wax plugs, although they have a right to exist, but none of these methods is guaranteed to be more correct, safe or effective than the others.

Nevertheless, it is better to entrust this procedure to specialists. Despite all the associated risks, some people, after taking a shower, boldly poke a cotton swab into their ears, knowing full well that doctors do not recommend this.

Another alternative medicine that should be avoided like fire is treating the ears with a candle.

Overly active exposure can lead to perforation of the eardrum or, paradoxically, to penetration of wax even deeper into the ear canal.

Moreover, sometimes the cotton wool comes off the stick and remains in the ear canal as a foreign body.

Overall, the main thing to remember is: don't use ear swabs! Or at least don't push them deep into your ear canal.

Another alternative medicine that should be avoided like fire is treating the ears with a candle.

This method involves taking a hollow wax or paraffin candle, holding it to your ear and lighting the opposite end.

The heat inside the empty candle is believed to draw earwax out of the ear canal, making it easy to remove.

If this idea seems crazy to you, you're absolutely right. It is not justified by anything.

In addition, there are many cases of melted wax getting on the eardrum, which is very painful and dangerous. So consider us warning you.

• You can read the original version of this article in English on the BBC Future website.

Composition and purpose of earwax

The yellowish secretion produced by glands located in the skin of the outer part of the ear canal is called earwax. It certainly doesn’t look very aesthetically pleasing, but there is nothing superfluous in a healthy human body, so you just need to maintain hygiene and properly remove excess sulfur.

It contains fatty acids, cholesterol, lysozyme, immunoglobulins, as well as sebum, desquamated epidermal cells, and microorganisms.

Thanks to the substances in sulfur, it has a number of useful properties:

• antimicrobial effect (antibacterial, antiviral, antimycotic);
• moisturizing, softening the skin of the ear canal, eardrum;
• protection against water, shampoo, shower gel getting into the ears.

The Internet describes methods for treating herpesvirus skin lesions using earwax. This is, of course, a method of traditional medicine that does not have an official evidence base.

If more sulfur is produced than it should be, then perhaps there are some health problems, for example: inflammatory diseases of any part of the ear (the middle ear most often suffers), otomycosis, a foreign body in the ear canal (this applies more to young children). In these cases, special glands begin to intensively produce sulfur for protective purposes: to destroy fungi, other microorganisms, to remove a stuck foreign body.

Earwax color and smell

Having found out why there is wax in the ears, you can move on to determining its normal consistency, color and smell. Normally, sulfur is moderately viscous and waxy. The release of liquid sulfur indicates an inflammatory process, especially if the substance flows continuously. Dry, crumbling sulfur may be normal or indicate fungal infection, dermatitis and other infections.