There’s probably a variety of things you never knew about earwax. Granted, it’s not a topic that comes up in conversation every day but getting to understand it and the purpose behind earwax is incredibly fascinating. Many of us see earwax as a strange, tacky substance, but it’s actually relevant to your ear health. With that in mind, here are some interesting things to learn about earwax.
Earwax Isn’t Really Wax
While it’s called wax, it isn’t wax at all! The name originates from the wavy texture. Earwax is partially made of skin cells from the ear, auditory, or canal. This area has skin that is constantly renewing itself. When dead cells drop off, they’re pulled in to produce earwax. The exact recipe for earwax features a dose of sebum, sweat, skin cells, and dirt.
Earwax Safeguards Your Ears
The purpose of earwax is to protect the skin inside your auditory canal. An ear infection can strike quickly and only takes a tiny break in that skin to wreak havoc and cause earache. The unusual texture of earwax lubricates your skin too, which stops bacterial infections before they begin. While many of us see earwax as a yucky, gooey substance, it’s actually essential for safeguarding our ears.
There Are Different Types of Earwax
Believe it or not, there are several kinds of earwax. It comes in two forms, dry and wet. The kind you have will depend on genetics, just like your eye colour. The dominant gene is wet earwax, which means it’s common for most people. However, people from China, Korea, or East Asian descent normally have the recessive dry gene.
Too Little or Too Much Earwax Is Bad
We all experience an itchy ear from time to time. However, this can be a signal you have low levels of earwax. While you may think cleaning your ears excessively is a good thing, too little earwax makes you more susceptible to infections.
Too much earwax can cause mild deafness, earaches, and a sensation of fullness in your ear. If you have earwax build-up, consider booking an appointment for ear wax removal in Harrow. Rather than trying to remove the wax yourself, use an ear wax removal specialist. Just make sure you don’t put a cotton bud in your ear to try and get rid of earwax. This will only push it in further and cause more problems.
Not All Hearing Loss Is Linked to Earwax
If your hearing does not return to normal once the wax is cleared, it’s time to see your doctor. Hearing loss is a common symptom of too much earwax, so if your ears are now clean but you’re struggling to hear, having a hearing test and professional ear exam is advised. You may find you need hearing aids.
We understand if you’ve not given a passing thought to earwax recently. But, if you’ve got an ear infection or blockage, paying more attention to earwax and understanding it better may help in protecting your ear health.
This is a collaborative post.