The science behind earwax colours can offer you helpful guidance about your ear health. The colour of your earwax colour can vary depending on many different factors as follows.
- Yellow – The most common type of earwax colour is Yellow. This colour generally indicates normal, health earwax which keeps your ears moisturised and protected at all times. You can have earwax which is pale yellow or even a darker tone. A lighter yellow earwax is common in children because their glands produce softer wax than adults. Darker yellow earwax tends to mean that the earwax has been sat in the ear longer and has collected more dust over time.
- Brown – When earwax is Brown this can also be normal as this tends to show that the wax has oxidized, and gone darker as it’s been sat there in the ear canal. People who produce darker brown earwax tend to mean that their ears are working harder to trap dirt. Sometimes this could be common in people who produce wet earwax, which can be to be darker and richer in texture.
- Red – When it comes to red earwax, this can usually indicate the presence of blood in the ear. This could be if you have injured or irritated your ears and should be checked out by a health professional. It could also be a sign of an ear infection which also requires urgent attention.
- Black – Noticing black earwax can be alarming to discover, however, it can occur when wax builds up over time or is mixed with dirt or dust. Black earwax can also happen after your ear has been bleeding which could be caused by a scratch or irritation.
