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Normally, earwax acts as a natural, protective barrier for the ear, but when there's too much buildup, it can create pressure in the ear canal, leading to pain. Hardened and compacted earwax, often due to using cotton buds or other objects to clean the ears (including DIY ear cleaning tools), can also irritate the ear canal, resulting in earache and discomfort. In this article, we'll explore causes, symptoms and effective remedies for earwax-related ear pain under the following sections:
Understanding Earwax and Its Functions
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is usually a brown or yellowish, waxy substance composed of oils, dead skin cells and other debris that may enter the ear canal such as dust. It is naturally produced by the glands in the ear canal to keep the skin moist and the ear protected. However, excessive earwax can result in earache and pain. Earwax buildup can be caused by a number of factors, including narrow ear canals, the ageing process or using objects such as cotton swabs (or even your finger) to clean your ears, which can push wax deeper into the ear canal.
Earwax: A Protective Barrier or Painful Problem?
When suffering with ear ache, the question is, how do you know if earwax is the culprit?
Ear pain is a valuable signal which lets us know when something is not quite right in that area of the body, and because our ears and hearing are so important, it’s always best to get painful ears checked out as soon as possible by your GP or a reputable hearing health professional. You might just find that the solution to your earache is as simple as the need for earwax removal.
Other reasons for ear pain might include:
Ear infections, particularly common in children, due to bacteria or viruses.
Swimmer's ear, an infection of the outer ear canal often caused by water exposure and bacteria.
Eustachian tube dysfunction, which occurs when the tubes that connect your middle ear to your upper throat become blocked. This can cause pain, hearing issues and a feeling of fullness in the ears.
Reasons Earwax Can Cause Ear Pain
While earwax is essential for our ear health, excessive earwax buildup can lead to problems, such as:
Ear Pain: When too much earwax accumulates in the ear canal, this can create pressure and cause ear pain.
Hearing Loss: Complete blockage of the ear canal by earwax can lead to a feeling of fullness, temporary hearing loss/ muffled hearing and ear ache
Irritation and Ear Pain From Hardened Earwax: Earwax can harden over time, especially in people who use cotton swabs or other objects to clean their ears. The hardened earwax can scrape against the delicate tissues of the ear canal, causing irritation and pain.
Earwax-related pain may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as hearing loss, itchy ears, dizziness or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Factors That Contribute to Earwax Buildup
Several factors can contribute to excessive earwax production and buildup, including:
Age: Aging can cause changes in earwax consistency, making it more likely to harden and block the ear canal and cause ear pain.
Hearing Aids: Hearing aid wearers may have more earwax blockages due to the device acting as a barrier to the natural migration of wax from the ear. A whistling hearing aid is often a sign that earwax has built up and professional earwax removal may be required.
Genetics: Some people are genetically predisposed to produce more earwax than others.
Use of Earbuds/Headphones: Frequent use of earbuds or headphones can push earwax deeper into the ear canal, leading to a buildup of earwax which could cause ear pain.
It's important to remember that everyone's earwax production levels are unique and some people are more prone to buildup than others. Those who produce higher levels of ear wax would benefit from regular, professional earwax removal, ideally using the microsuction method, which is often viewed as the safest and most effective method of ear cleaning.
How to Relieve Earwax-Related Pain
If you're experiencing earwax-related pain, there are a few different things you can try to alleviate an earache caused by blocked ears:
Ear Drops: Over-the-counter ear drops containing softening agents can help break up hardened earwax and reduce pressure.
Syringing/irrigation: This method involves flushing the ear canal with warm water or a saline solution using a special syringe. It's important to consult with a healthcare professional before choosing this treatment option, especially if you have a history of ear infections, perforated eardrums or other ear conditions.
Microsuction Earwax Removal: Earwax removal using a gentle suction device, is often preferred over traditional ear syringing due to its less invasive nature and ability to effectively remove earwax build ups and blockages quickly and effectively. Microsuction is generally considered a more comfortable and safer option, especially for people with sensitive ears or a history of ear problems.
Remember, it’s always best to avoid using cotton swabs, ear cleaning tools or other objects to clean your ears, as this can push earwax deeper into the canal and could cause injury.
Earache: When to Seek Medical Advice
If you experience earache that persists for 2-3 days or worsens, or it is accompanied by other symptoms like fever, dizziness, discharge from the ear (which might also be smelly) it's important to seek medical advice as soon as possible**. **
If your ear pain is intense and significantly impacting your daily life; you have visible damage to the ear canal, or if you experience recurrent ear infections or ear pain, it is also important to seek prompt medical advice, as early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent any possible complications and alleviate any associated ear pain and discomfort.
If you experience sudden hearing loss or your hearing has become worse over the last few days or weeks in one or both ears or you have hearing loss with other symptoms (such as those discussed above), it is recommended that you contact your GP for an urgent appointment or call NHS 111 for help and advice. It might not be anything serious, but it's always best to find out quickly in case immediate treatment is required.
What to Do If Ear Pain is Caused By An Ear Wax Blockage
If you know that you are suffering with blocked ears caused by excessive earwax, it’s simple to book an appointment for earwax removal at a specialist ear care clinic, such as Interhearing, where Ear Care Specialists will help to quickly and effectively relieve the symptoms associated with blocked ears, and provide helpful advice and support to enable you to enjoy better hearing health for the future.
Conclusion
Earwax is an important and natural part of maintaining healthy ears, but excessive buildup can lead to pain, discomfort and other difficult side effects. By understanding the causes and symptoms of earwax-related pain, and by adopting regular, safe and effective cleaning and treatment methods, such as microsuction, you can maintain healthy ears, enjoy better hearing and prevent ear pain and discomfort.
