Welcome to blockedear.net, here we aim to offer you information, advice and remedies for dealing with blocked ears. Many of us have been there and blocked ear can be a frustrating and annoying thing to happen. Many people will doing quite extreme things to clear their ear and do long term damage instead.
There are many different types of drops sold over the counter but these may irritate the skin in some people. They should not be used where there is a damaged eardrum or previous outer ear infection. It is important to remember that the ear canal may already be dry or itchy, and the skin lining may be thinning or may even have an infection in it.
There is a seawater ear spray which is said to loosen hard wax but every person is an individual and this may also cause discomfort in some ears.
Olive oil is gentle and lubricates both the skin and the wax plug so making it easier for the doctor or nurse to remove with no discomfort.
If you are not sure which drops are best for your skin visit your doctor or nurse to ask. They will be able to see in your ear and help you make the right choice.
Some older people may produce less oily substance so the wax becomes dry and hard. If they also produce excess wax, this will become a recurring problem requiring syringing. For these people, one drop of oil into each ear once a week maintains the gentle lubrication of both the skin and the wax, which encourages natural wax movement out of the ear.
This procedure repeated for two or three nights before an appointment is usually sufficient to enable the doctor or nurse to remove the wax more easily.
Many drops on the market do not live up to their advertising, and many irritate the skin. You should only use drops prescribed by your doctor. If you have been prescribed such drops, make sure your doctor or pharmacist explains how to use them properly.
Earwax is generally a dense sticky substance, it therefore needs to be softened before it can be removed. Various commercial ear drops exist for this purpose, but plain olive oil has also been shown to be effective. A few drops are put into the blocked ear 4 times a day for 4-5 days. By the end the earwax will usually be soft enough to remove with ear irrigation.
Ear irrigation is the flowing of warm water into the ear. When the water flows out, it hopefully takes with it the softened earwax and any debris with it. Care needs to be taken to control the flow of water so that it does not cause any pain or injury. The temperature of the water is very important. It should be warm, very slightly above body temperature. Flowing colder or hotter water through the ears can cause dizziness and disorientation. Doctors will use specialized syringes that navigate the bends and curves of the ear canal.
Earwax is made of a number of different substances which form a protective layer over the skin lining the ear canal. The substances in the earwax help to prevent canal lining from drying and cracking.
Earwax consists of:
Earwax can be either wet or dry.
Earwax has a number of functions.
Earwax has antibacterial properties. Without earwax the skin inside the ear would become crack and dry or infected.
Sometimes earwax can cause your ear canal to become blocked, This blockage can lead to hearing loss or pain. Some people produce excessive amounts of earwax. This increases the risk of it becoming impacted. This is where the wax gets pushed into the ear and forms a think build up. If this happens the earwax will need to be removed.