Having excess (too much) ear wax

Ear wax is made up of skin cells, hairs and secretions (discharge) from glands at the entrance of your ear canal.

Wax is normal, it is there to protect your ears from dirt and germs. Usually, ear wax just falls out on its own. However, sometimes a large build-up of wax can happen. This can be because of:

• age – older people may have drier wax and skin.
• dusty or dirty environments – people who work in areas where there is a lot of dust or dirt in the air causing wax to build up quicker.
• ear habits – using cotton buds, hair clips etc. to try to clean the ear canal is one of the most common causes of impacted wax. It causes the wax to be forced down the ear canal.
• hearing aid moulds – hearing aid moulds can interfere with the ears normal process of shedding dead skin and wax causing debris to build up in the ear canal.
• earplugs – the use of earplugs, often required in some occupations can have a similar effect to cotton buds.
• skin conditions – dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis causing flaking of the skin and a build-up of excess dead skin in the ear canal.

• Reduced, or loss of, hearing
• Tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in your ears)
• Pain or discomfort
• A feeling of fullness in your ear
• Itching
• Dizziness
• Coughing

There are a few different ways that trained health professionals can remove wax, debris, discharge and foreign bodies (something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there) from your ear. They are:

Instruments

Instruments designed for ear care can be used. 

Potential risks of using these instruments are uncommon (1 to 10 people in 1000, one person in a village), and include:

• trauma (damage)
• bleeding
• infection

The specialist nurse will make sure everything is done to prevent and minimise this risk.

Irrigation (also known as ear syringing)

Irrigation puts warm water in your ear canal using an electronic ear irrigator. This is at a controlled pressure to gently wash out any wax and debris. Once clear, the ear canal is dried using a probe and cotton wool. 

As with all procedures there are some risks however, these are uncommon (1 to 10 people in 1000, one person in a village).

Potential risks from irrigation include:

• trauma (damage) to your eardrum
• bleeding
• an ear infection
• vertigo (dizziness)
• tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in your ears)
• infection

The specialist nurse will make sure everything is done to prevent and minimise these risks.

Microsuction

A microscope is used to look into your ear canal and a small suction tube can be used to vacuum or suck out the debris. 

As with all procedures there are some risks however, these are  uncommon (1 in 100 to 1 in 1000) people  one person in a village).

Potential risks from microsuction include:

• trauma (damage) to your eardrum (very rare, less than 1 in 10,000)
• bleeding (common, 1 in 20 or a person in a street)
• vertigo (dizziness) (uncommon, 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 or a person in a village) )
• noise levels can cause temporary hearing changes (uncommon, 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 or a person in a village)
• noise levels can cause permanent hearing changes (very rare, less than 1 in 10,000 or a person in a large town)
• infection (uncommon, 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 or a person in a village)
• noise levels from this procedure can make existing tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in your ears) worse or in rare cases it can trigger newly presenting tinnitus (uncommon, 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 or a person in a village)

The specialist nurse will make sure everything is done to prevent and minimise these risks.

It is important to keep your ear canals dry when swimming, washing your hair, showering or bathing to reduce the risk of ear infections. Use cotton wool to plug the entrance of your ear canal, then smear with petroleum jelly to create a good waterproof seal. 

Avoiding water in your ears is very important after ear irrigation. Be especially careful to not allow water in your ears for 5 to 7 days after the procedure, and at all times if you have a perforation or have had any surgery to your ears. 

If you are a frequent swimmer, it may be useful to buy some swim plugs. You can buy made to measure swim plugs from the Ear Care and Audiology department. Please ask a member of staff for more information.

If you have any problems or concerns after having wax removal, such as pain, discharge from your ear or your hearing does not return to normal, please contact the Ear Care and Audiology Service.