The Importance of Earwax: Benefits and Tips for Ear Care

KOMPAS.com – Some of you may have accidentally found dirt when wiping your earphones or earplugs.

However, why do humans have earwax and is it good for us?

Earwax

Quoted from Live Science, Friday (18/8/2023) earwax consists of dead skin cells mixed with secretions from the oil and sweat glands in the ear.

Skin cells in the outer ear canal originate from the center of the eardrum and then migrate towards the entrance of the ear, where the cells then meet with an oil mixture called sebum to moisturize the skin.

The sebum then mixes with the secretions from the sweat glands and sheds skin cells to make earwax.

“Earwax serves to lubricate the skin in the ear canal, trapping dirt and dust in the same way as the mucus in your nose,” says Kevin Munro, professor of audiology at the University of Manchester in England.

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The sebaceous and sweat glands also secrete antimicrobial proteins into the mix, protecting the ears from bacterial and fungal infections.

“The ear canal is like a tunnel or cave. It can get warm and moist, and that’s a great environment for bacteria to grow,” says Munro.

Laboratory analysis has shown earwax to inhibit common ear pathogens such as the fungus Candida albicans and the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

This may be due to the slightly acidic nature of earwax (pH ranges from 5.2 to 7.0), as well as the immune proteins it contains, including antibodies that bind to lysozyme, an enzyme that breaks down the cell walls of some bacteria.

The importance of earwax

The importance of the benefits of earwax, people should avoid making the sticky substance if it doesn’t cause problems.

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However, a person must pay attention if the buildup of earwax starts to cause pain, blockage, or hearing difficulties.

Problematic earwax buildup is most common in people over 60 years of age, because as you get older, earwax drains more slowly and greater amounts are produced.

In addition to age-related changes, wearing earphones, earplugs, or hearing aids that block the discharge of earwax can also cause buildup.

Munro cautioned against trying to remove earwax using cotton swabs, as this will push the wax further into the ear and can damage the eardrum.

Ear candling treatment which places a lighted candle in the ear when a person is lying on their side is also not recommended.

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It also includes a smoky wax treatment which is said to suck air and wax out of the ear. It can even cause burns.

A doctor can safely remove earwax using a microsuction device or by rinsing using an electronic water irrigator which draws water into the ear at low pressure.

Medical personnel will usually also avoid using syringes to clean the ears, because this technique can puncture the eardrum.

Meanwhile, Munro added before ear treatment, patients can prepare for the removal of their earwax by adding ear drops.

Put ear drops, such as carbamide peroxide or medical-grade olive oil, into their ear for a few days beforehand to soften the earwax.

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2023-08-18 13:00:00
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