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Conditions

Earwax

Examination inside the ear

You might think that earwax is just useless icky stuff that you have to constantly remove from your ears. But it’s a natural secretion that actually performs a number of functions. Earwax cleans, lubricates, and protects the lining of your ear, by trapping dirt and repelling water. Without it, the skin inside your ear may become dry, cracked, infected, or waterlogged and sore. But this newfound respect for your earwax shouldn’t prevent you from conducting a little ear maintenance every now and then. The wax should naturally migrate towards the opening of the ear canal, so you shouldn’t have to go ramming a cotton bud deep inside (until you reach the brain). However, every year in the UK, an estimated 2.3 million people have problems with excessive earwax, which can sometimes cause the ear canal to become blocked, leading to pain, or temporary hearing loss. In these cases, the earwax will need to be removed by a GP or specialist.

If you are worried that your child has excessive earwax, check our condition guide for parents on Embarrassing Bodies: Kids.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

Following having problems since I was around 5, I discovered that my auntie has got lots of food allergies. I then did some research and heard that being allergic to milk can cause lots of different issues. I have for over a month now cut out milk completely from my diet! I have had a total of 4 days of pain! I am so pleased! I hope this helps someone or gives some form of hope to those who suffer!





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How are you mean't to clean your ears out properly? xxxx AL





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I HAVE A CONSTANT MUSH / TONE SOUND IN MY EARS ALL THE TIME,IT SEEMS RELATED TO MY PULSE.MY DOCTOR CHECKED MY EARS AND SAID THEY ARE OK BUT THE MUSHY SOUND IS MORE IN MY LEFT EAR AND I CAN'T LAY ON THAT SIDE TO GO TO SLEEP.





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Thank you for visiting our web site and for discussing your problem so openly. If you would like the opportunity to be seen by one of the Embarrassing Bodies Doctors and have your problems assessed and treated by a specialist, then why not apply for the chance to take part in the programme. Please visit the following link and click ‘Apply to be on the show’ where you can fill in an application form: http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/features/be-on-embarrassing-bodies/

HI I HAD AN AER PROBLEM WHICH CONTAIN PAIN AND SMELL THIS PROBLEM IS SINCE FROM 2005 I HAVE SINCE MY DOCTOR AND THEY SAID IT'S WAX BUT I BELEIVE IT'S NOT WAX





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I get bullied at school for having to much ear wax and it needs to be cleaned regulary I went swimming every day on holiday and didn't need to clean my ears for about a month and ideas?





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hi there im just wouldering you no when i yawn my ears pop both off then and i have to put my finger under my nose and breath up to put them back right do u no what this could be .





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well...i have been having this ear problem for like 9 months now im 14 and this happened to me before and then went away when syringed.One day i went swimming with a friend then after drying my self i hear a crackling noise in my ear whitch happens after i talk or someone else talks to me im really gettig sick of it and the docter said its due to so much wax and all they give me is ear drop,era drops ear drops i feel liek it will never go away i want to get it syringed but noooo!! they dont like doing that to kids and yet this happened before and it was alright after...now to make it worst i put my ear drops in one day the next morning my ear is completly blocked so i start fiddling about with my ear and still right now im still cant hear proberly...





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ear wax running out of my ear since i was a child i am now 36 and to date i still suffer with this problem mainly at night when i am asleep it would coat my pillow, i also suffer from tinnitus since i was on the firing range ,when i was in the army, its a high pitched noise, which lasts for about 1 min each time, 10-15 times daily





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There is a lot of earwax in my left ear and it is seems to be very hard and my ears get blocked sometimes





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hi there, my son is 10 & in the last few years we realised that he needs to clean his ears every day due to excessive secretion of the ear wax. the brown sometimes quite dark stuff shows outside. please help in identifying and sorting this condition. many thanks Loubna





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Earwax is made up of a number of different substances that form a protective coating over the skin that lines the ear canal (the passage between the outer and middle ear). Read More »

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