Ear care and

Wax removal

References

British Medical Journal

British Tinnitus Association

NICE

NHS.co.uk

Rotherham ear care centre

“Never poke

anything in your ear

smaller than you

elbow!”

Hanway Medical Practice

2 Hanway Road Portsmouth PO1 4ND

Phone: 02392 894277 Created by Sam King, RN

Ear Wax

Wax is an important and natural secretion

found in the ear. It protects the ear against

dust, dirt and bacteria, so it helps to prevent

infection.

Wax or cerumen is made up of skin cells, dust

and secretions from the glands in the ear canal.

These secretions lubricate the ear canal and

prevent it from becoming dry. The amount an

individual has varies from person to person and

depends on environment, diet and age.

In most cases wax does not bother people and

its best to leave well enough alone.

The ear is designed to be self cleaning and

therefore you should not have to remove any

yourself. Cotton buds irritate the ear canal,

stripping it of its natural oils and causing it to

feel itchy.

Possible effects of syringing

Knocks off the self cleaning role of the ear. It

Washes away necessary natural

protective ,waterproof. bugproof layers of

the ear canal.

Can cause medically acquired ear infections.

Can cause tinnitus later in life.

Dead skin is often left in the ear which then

dries and makes a noise. If it rubs on the ear

drum it can cause vertigo episodes. It creates

a fast growing ‘core’ for a new wax plug to

develop.

If the ear canal remains wet or gets wet

(shower/swim), it becomes a ready home for

infection.

About a third of people with ear wax plugs find

that the wax goes away on its own after 7 days

without any treatment (BMJ 2015)

What should I use at home?

If you have any pain or discharge from your ears you

should see the triage nurse at the surgery.

There are many preparations you can get from the

pharmacy to help soften wax but many can be harsh

and drying causing the ear canal to become itchy and

dry.

Rather than use such ear drops, many people find that

olive oil is easily available, comfortable to use and does

not need to be warmed before use. Three or four drops,

two or three times a day for one to two weeks is usually

sufficient, and the wax will often then come out by

itself. You may find wax on your pillow or after

showering etc.

When introducing drops into the ear, it is best to use a

dropper and lay with your head on one side for a couple

of minutes to allow the drops to move along the ear

canal. If you wish to put cotton wool in your ear you

may but you must coat one side with Vaseline and

insert gently the Vaseline side to the ear that way the

oil will stay in the ear canal and not soak up in the

cotton wool. Many people find comfort in this but it is

not a must.

Dealing with wax build up takes perseverance and

commitment on your part. Persist for long enough and

the wax will come out.

Many people like to book in with the nurse for ear

syringing but due to recent publications this should be

done with great caution. We should not be syringing

any new patients’ especially younger people. By

syringing you cause the self cleaning role of your ear to

stop working and so syringing can be necessary for your

entire life, as we see with many elderly patients now.