Ear wax problems
Find out why earwax builds up, the symptoms to watch for, and safe ways to treat it at home, at the pharmacy, or with help from your GP practice.
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Book an appointment onlineWhat is earwax build-up?
Earwax is a natural substance made by glands in your ear canal to protect it from dust, dirt and infection, and it usually falls out on its own. A build-up happens when too much collects and blocks your ear, which can affect your hearing and feel uncomfortable.
What are the symptoms of earwax build-up?
A build-up of earwax can cause:
- temporary hearing loss, or muffled hearing
- earache, or a feeling that your ear is blocked or full
- ringing or buzzing in your ear (tinnitus)
- itchiness in your ear
- dizziness, or feeling dizzy and sick (vertigo)
- occasionally, a cough.
In children, a large piece of wax is sometimes visible in the ear canal itself, or a hard, dry piece can create a feeling that something is stuck inside the ear.
What are the causes of earwax build-up and who is at risk?
Some people simply produce more earwax than others, or produce a drier, harder wax that's less likely to fall out on its own. Around 10% of children and 5% of adults have a build-up significant enough to cause problems, and it becomes more likely over the age of 55, as earwax tends to get drier with age.
You're also more likely to develop a build-up if you have:
- narrow, hairy or misshapen ear canals
- a skin condition, such as eczema, affecting your scalp or the area around your ear
- bony growths in the outer part of the ear canal
- inflammation of the ear canal (otitis externa, sometimes called swimmer's ear).
Regularly putting objects into your ears, such as cotton buds, hairpins, earplugs or hearing aids, is one of the most common causes of build-up, because these push wax further in rather than removing it.
Are there different types of earwax build-up?
Earwax build-up itself doesn't have separate clinical types. Earwax varies naturally between people though: it can be almost liquid, firm and solid, or dry and flaky, and it's usually a golden-yellow colour when new, turning browner and drier over time.
When a build-up is severe enough to fully block the ear canal, doctors call this cerumen impaction, cerumen being the medical name for earwax.
How is earwax build-up diagnosed?
A GP or practice nurse will look inside your ear with a lighted instrument called an otoscope to check whether it's blocked with wax. They might also carry out some simple hearing tests to see how much this is affecting you.
How is earwax build-up treated?
Earwax build-up doesn't need surgery. Most people can treat it themselves at home, and if that doesn't work, a pharmacist or GP practice can offer further, still non-surgical, options.
To treat it yourself:
- Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up
- Put 2–3 drops of olive or almond oil into your ear (don't use almond oil if you're allergic to almonds)
- Stay lying on your side for 5–10 minutes
- Repeat 3–4 times a day, for 3–5 days.
Over about two weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out and your symptoms should ease. A pharmacist can also suggest eardrops or sprays, including ones containing sodium bicarbonate, and can advise on suitable over-the-counter products such as hydrogen peroxide-based drops.
There’s no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums work, and they can cause burns or push wax further in. Never use your fingers, cotton buds or other objects to try to remove earwax yourself.
If self-care doesn’t clear the build-up, a GP practice may offer:
- ear irrigation, where an electric pump gently washes the wax out with water
- microsuction, where a small device suctions the wax out (you may need to be referred for this)
- removal using a small instrument to scrape or loop the wax out.
These procedures are usually quick and painless, and take only a few minutes. If they don’t help, or aren’t suitable for you, your GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.
When should I see a doctor?
See a pharmacist first for straightforward build-up. Contact your GP practice if your symptoms haven’t cleared after using eardrops for five days, or if your ear is so blocked you can’t hear anything at all, as untreated blockages can lead to infection.
Get medical care straight away if you have:
- a fever
- earache that doesn’t go away
- discharge coming from your ear
- a foul smell coming from your ear
- pain or bleeding after something was put into the ear.
For children, also seek same-day care if hearing loss is complete in either ear, or if the child seems very unwell. Get advice before attempting any home treatment if there’s a history of a perforated eardrum or ear tubes.
FAQs
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Can I use cotton buds to clean my ears?
No. Cotton buds are usually wider than the ear canal, so instead of removing wax, they push it further in and pack it down. They can also scratch the delicate skin of the ear canal or eardrum, and using them regularly can encourage your ears to produce even more wax.
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Do ear candles work to remove earwax?No. There's no evidence that ear candles remove earwax, and studies show the suction effect they claim to create doesn't actually happen. They can also cause burns to the ear canal or outer ear, and in some cases can perforate the eardrum.
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How common is earwax build-up?It's common. Around 10% of children and 5% of adults have a build-up significant enough to cause symptoms, and it becomes more likely after the age of 55.
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Will removing the wax improve my hearing?Often, yes, if a build-up was the cause of your hearing loss. Researchers estimate that hearing can improve by around 10 decibels once a blockage is cleared.
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Is it normal for some children to have more earwax than others?Yes. A small number of children, around 5%, naturally produce more earwax than others. This isn't a sign of poor hygiene; it usually just means the wax needs a little extra help to clear, such as softening drops used under medical advice.