Earwax, also known as cerumen, is the waxy substance which is secreted in the ear canal. Here at Ear Wax Care, we get a lot of questions surrounding the nature, care, and potential complications related to ear wax. As a subject which is not frequently spoken about, it can be difficult to know what is normal and what is not, and how best to look after your ears. But worry not, we are here to answer all of your earwax-related queries and give you advice on how to care for your ear health!
One question you may have about your earwax could be about how long it takes for earwax to build up. Normally, earwax will just fall out by itself and does not require you to remove it yourself. The rate at which earwax builds up differs from person to person and depends on a multitude of factors, such as genetics, whether you try to clean your ears using cotton ear buds (which we advise against, as this actually creates excess earwax rather than fixing the problem), how hairy or narrow your ear canals are, and whether you use contact devices (such as earphones, or hearing aids).
If you feel that your earwax is regularly building up, or its causing issues such as earache, hearing problems, or ringing (tinnitus), then we recommend that you try an at-home treatment of olive oil for a couple of weeks. If this does not improve the build-up, then get in touch with us here at Ear Wax Care, and we’ll see how one of our NHS-trained audiologists can be of assistance.
