Warning: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Click Continue to proceed or Back for other Channel 4 programmes about health and wellbeing.

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.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments are reviewed before they are published.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

i always have giant ear waxes in my ears HELP

hi i have smelly dischardge comin out of my ear.i av ad antibiotic and drops but nothings changed.i also been to ent and ad them seringed.still nothin changed.please help me its so embarrsing.

i have a 8yr old son who has suffered with his 1 ear for a few yrs now we took him to the docs and they say hes ok but we can see a lump of wax,wot cann he have done as now and again he got problems hearin and we are puttin it down to this problem

i have a 3 yr old daughter who has had an ear infection from birth it ouses a slimmy fluid from her ear she has been prescribed different ear drops and mild antibiotics but none of these seem to clear the infection completely. she has also visited the ENT clinic to have her ears checked twice now and she has low hearin in one of her ears she also has a speack problem where she mummbles her word.she has a twin sister who talks clearly and i believe that her ear infection is the cause of her speach

I have been suffering ear infections for a while and my doctor has told me not to clean my ears at all. However, I have read that ear wax causes tinitus and this is something within the family. Can you give me any advice on what to clean them with? Thank you.

Hi!
I never have any wax in my ears is that normal?

i get bussing in my ears its very annoying when its very quiet

I have had an ear infection for 15 years, which the doctor has prescribed different ear drops and mild antibiotics but none of these seem to clear the infection completely. I have also visited the ENT clinic to have my ears cleaned and was advised that there was nothing else they could do and stick to what the doctor had prescribed. Is there any other remedies/alternatives to help clear this?

i was told my my gp that i have otis externia. and given eye drops to clear the issue.. however instead of having ear infection i have flakey skin coming from my ear and feel deaf in the ear… any ideas

hey i am a 19 year old girl and i keep getting ear infections, and excievse wax leaking from the ear drum i recently burst my ear drum is there any way i can help this problem in my ears so it is not so painfull thanks x




This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published - it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 were to need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don't swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


Videos

  1. Christian Jessen

    Dr Christian Jessen

    Find out more about Dr Christian Jessen

  2. Dr Pixie McKenna

    Dr Pixie McKenna

    Find out more about Dr Pixie McKenna

  3. Ear infection examination

    Consultation: Ear Infection

    A patient with an ear infection is diagnosed by Dr Jessen


Advertisement