What Causes Ear Wax Build Up?

Endoscopic microsuction can remove earwax build up

Everybody has earwax, but why do some have more than others?

There are a number of reasons why some people have a build up of earwax in their ear canals, some are avoidable and others, unfortunately, not so much.

Lets take a look at the avoidable reasons first. Many people who have a problem with impacted wax have a history of using cotton buds or something similar in attempt to clear the wax out of their ears themselves. Although you may see some orange staining on the cotton bud when you are finished, it does not mean you have cleared the wax. In fact, its likely that you have just pushed the wax further into the ear canal, compacting it towards the ear drum. Under no circumstances should anything be inserted into the ear to attempt to clean it unless it is someone trained in earwax removal. Another avoidable reason people find their earwax builds up is wearing head phones or ear plugs for long periods of time. The contact with the ear and loud noise from headphones in particular, can be irritating and cause the glands to produce more wax as a form of protection. They also act as a plug so that when the wax is making its natural migration out of the ear canal, the exit is blocked so it cannot leave and therefore remains in the canal. Over time, more wax is produced and ultimately is trapped as well causing a build up.

Now lets take a look at those reasons which are more unavoidable. Some people are born with hairy, very narrow or oddly shaped ear canals. This means that the wax has a harder time migrating out of the ear canal either because of the hair holding it back or because of the structure. For those with narrower canals, it will take less wax to cause a problem than for those with a wider canal. People who wear hearing aids will find they are more prone to build up for the same reason as those who wear headphones or ear plugs regularly, and the same goes for those wearing noise protection ear muffs or headsets. As people grow older they will find that the earwax they produce as well as their skin will become drier. Dry skin or dermatitis in the ear canal can flake off and mix in with the hard wax and as the ear canals are not moisturised and lubricated, the wax will have a more difficult journey out.

One thing which tends to help is to use medical grade olive oil drops, such as ‘Earol’, in the ears. The purpose of this is to soften the wax and to lubricate and moisturise the ear canal to which help the wax loosen and give it a better chance at migrating out on its own. Often, people who are prone to a build up of earwax for whichever reason, may find that they need regular earwax removal treatments to keep them from experiencing unpleasant symptoms and keeping the earwax levels in the canal low. The use of the olive oil drops will help the wax leave the ear more easily during the removal procedure. If you want to learn more about microsuction techniques please go to our blog post ‘Microsuction vs Syringing’.