“Cerumen impaction” is the medical term for earwax blockage. Earwax (cerumen) plays an important role in ear health. It cleans your ears and protects them from dust, dirt and infection. It is made in the outer canal, the area between the fleshy part of the ear on the outside of the head and the middle ear. Despite its many benefits, it can cause issues if too much of it builds up. Cerumen impaction may result in ear pain, itchiness, ringing in your ears, hearing loss.
When necessary, a healthcare provider can help you with earwax removal. If left untreated, excessive earwax may cause symptoms to worsen. These symptoms might include hearing loss, ear irritation, tinnitus and other issues. You should never, under any circumstances, put anything inside your ear canal — including to dig out excessive or hardened ear waxing with available items, such as a paper clip, a cotton swab or a hairpin. Not only can using cotton swabs damage your eardrum, but it can also encourage your ears to make more earwax.
We can remove earwax in different ways, by:
scooping it out.
Microsuction.
flushing it out with warm water.
Signs and symptoms of earwax blockage may include :
Earache (Pain in your ear )
Feeling of fullness in the ear
Ringing or noises in the ear (tinnitus)
Dizziness, itchiness in the ear
Odor or discharge in the ear
Pain or infection in the ear
There’s no way to know if you have too much earwax without having someone, usually your health care provider, look in your ears. Having signs and symptoms, such as earache or hearing loss, doesn’t always mean you have wax buildup. You may have another health condition that needs attention. It is more likely to occur in people who have a lot of ear hair, over the age of 55, have certain skin conditions like eczema, use hearing aids, earplugs or earbuds.
Talk to Us :
We offer an initial consultation where we take a history, look in affected ear/s and book an appointment for wax removal or refer to GP if an infection suspected. We recommend use of oil allows to soften the wax prior to removal, occasionally the oil allows wax to come out without the need for microsuction.
Speak to our health provider about earwax build-up. The Goldchem Pharmacy can give advice and suggest treatments. Ask for more information to member of our team.