Ear wax is secreted by the glands in the outer ear and serves as a sort of a recycling centre. It helps to trap the dust that enter the ears and moves it to the opening of the ear. The wax and the dust are washed away from there when you bathe. However, sometimes there is an excess of wax secretion and this can cause a feeling of discomfort and itching in the ears. Apart from varying degrees of pain there are other symptoms of excessive ear-wax. Some people experience a difficulty in hearing and some people even experience problems with balance as though the balance in the inner ear has been disturbed.
In case your ear is producing large quantities of ear wax, you should be careful in removing the excess wax, so that you do not hurt your ear. Avoid using the cotton buds available in the market and keep bob pins and fingers out of the ears. This only pushes the wax further inside, compacting it and making it hard, which can make it more difficult to dislodge it. You should use a cotton ball to gently clean the opening of your ear and wipe off the wax after you bathe. This normally suffices, unless you have wax that has built-up inside the ear and is difficult to dislodge.
To soften persistent ear wax, you can warm some baby oil or paraffin oil and gently place a few drops in the ear using an eye dropper. Lie still for a few minutes before allowing the excess oil to drain out. You can repeat this process twice a day to soften the ear wax, after which you can flush out the wax using an ear syringe and tepid water. Once you have flushed out the wax, make sure you dry the ear thoroughly to avoid the possibility of infections due to any water residue. You could also rinse the ear with a diluted solution of apple cider vinegar to restore the natural balance of pH in the ear. There are several non-prescription lubricants easily available in the market which you can use to soften the ear wax. Some people recommend using Hydrogen Peroxide to clean ear wax. However you should refrain from doing so, since Hydrogen Peroxide is a strong agent and you should thus not take the risk of allowing it to come into direct contact with your ears. If the problem persists, consult your doctor or visit an ENT specialist.
answered by G R