Should earwax be removed?

Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a naturally occurring substance that protects and cleans the outer ear canal. It usually does not have to be removed, as it is excreted from the ear with the help of regular jaw movement. The accumulation of earwax is completely normal and does not indicate poor hygiene or ear health.

However, excessive earwax accumulation can cause problems, such as earwax impaction. In this case, wax builds up in the ear canal and hardens, sometimes completely blocking the ear canal. Causes of earwax impaction include anatomical differences (a narrow or curved ear canal), ear diseases, differences in earwax texture, or overproduction of earwax. People with earwax impaction may experience hearing loss, a feeling of "fullness” in the ear, dizziness, itchiness, or ear pain. Using cotton swabs to clean the ear canal is not advised, as it may push wax deeper into the ear canal rather than remove it. If a person is experiencing symptoms of earwax impaction, it is best to seek treatment from a healthcare provider.^{[1] [2]}