Ear wax self management 

Ear wax is normal and provides a protective coating over the skin in the ear canal. It helps to keep your ears healthy; it is anti-fungal and antibacterial. The quantity of earwax produced varies greatly from person to person.

Points to remember 

  • Ear wax is normal and it provides protection for your ears
  • Your ears are self- cleaning
  • The movement of your jaw whilst eating and talking helps to move the wax along the canal
  • A plug of earwax is not a serious problem. You only need to remove earwax if it is causing symptoms such as dulled hearing or when fitting a hearing aid

Ears are normally self-cleaning, the movement of your jaw whilst eating and talking helps to move the wax along the canal where it will usually fall out naturally without you noticing. For most people, ear wax will not cause any problems and should be left alone without any attempts to remove it. However, for some people they may experience problems with ear wax and treatment may be required. When it's blocking your ears, a pharmacist can help. DO NOT use cotton buds to try and remove the wax as this will push the wax further into the ear canal and block your ear. Use of cotton buds can lead to infection and damage the ear.

Some people regularly get blocked ears because they naturally produce a lot of earwax. Other factors which can increase the risk of too much earwax include:

  • Producing naturally hard or dry earwax
  • Having narrow or hairy ear canals (the tube between the opening of the ear and the eardrum)
  • Being elderly, as earwax becomes drier with age
  • Bony growths in the outer part of the ear canal
  • Earwax can also block your ear if you frequently insert objects into the ear canal, such as cotton buds, ear plugs or hearing aids
  • If wax is no causing any problems, it is best left alone. 

Use of Ear Drops - Olive oil is a safe, effective way to clear earwax in most cases. The oil softens the wax so that it runs out, without harming the ear. You will not necessarily see the wax come out. If prone to repeated wax build up you can use olive oil drops twice a week, long term
to prevent recurrence.

How to use ear drops:

  • Warm the drops to room temperature before using them
  • Put two or three drops into the ear canal twice daily
  • Lie with the affected ear uppper most when putting in drops
  • Stay like this for 10 minutes to allow the drops to soak into the earwax
  • Continue for two to three weeks

Olive oil sprays are also available whichavoids the need to lie on your side for 10minutes. This can be helpful if you find it difficult to lie on one side for prolonged periods. Olive oil drops and sprays can be purchased from the pharmacy or supermarket. DO NOT use olive oil if you have been told you have a perforated ear drum or if you have ever had surgery on your ears. You will need to request your GP refers you for wax micro-suction by a specialist. Persistent or difficult to remove wax through ear irrigation should be passed to micro suction (especially in those with hearing aids). DO NOT put cotton wool in your ear canal after using the olive oil to retain it, this may cause infection. If you’re not sure and would like to speak with someone speak with your pharmacy, they will be able to advise and support you.
 

Over time, lumps of earwax should fall out of your ear especially at night when you're lying down.

Ear syringing is no longer considered to be the first line treatment and it is only provided where there is clinical need. Current guidelines are that ear drops should be used to soften the wax which will then enable the natural movement of the wax from the ear. Ear syringing does pose some risks to your ear, the biggest being a perforated ear drum and/or ear infection which may affect your hearing. Therefore, self-management is recommended as first line of treatment.

It is recommended to use olive oil which can be purchased from the pharmacist, twice a day for 7 to 10 days, and over time the ear wax falls out on its own especially at night when you're lying down. Olive oil ear drops are a safe, effective way to clear earwax in most cases. The oil softens the wax so that it runs out, without harming the ear.

If symptoms persist, following the first line of treatment (using olive oil), patients can contact their GP practice to refer them to their local NHS community treatment room where ear syringing can be considered.

When to seek help from a professional

If you are experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Pain
  • Discharge or bleeding from the ear
  • Sudden deafness
  • Dizziness
  • Foreign bodies (you may have been advised to attend A&E)

After using eardrops for the recommended time your symptoms still persist speak to your GP practice to look inside your ears to check if they ar blocked and might carry out some somple hearing tests and/ or refer you to your local community treatment room.

Speak to your healthcare professional, your GP, pratice nurse or district nurse, if you are under the care of audiology community nurse will be able to offer alternative treatment to remove ear wax build up.