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Earwax may be gross, but the truth is, it’s not medically necessary to remove it. In fact, your body naturally produces this yellowish wax (cerumen) as a protective mechanism for your ear canal. The ear canal is self-cleaning, pushing wax out of the canal where it eventually dries, flakes and falls out on its own.

However, some people produce more wax than their body is able to remove, leading to buildup over time. This condition, known as , can cause discomfort or other problems.

Riddhi M. Patel, MD, an otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat physician) at »ªÌå»á, explains the causes, symptoms and treatment options for built-up earwax.

Causes and Symptoms of Impacted Earwax

Impacted earwax is often caused by wax being pushed deeper into the canal, commonly by cotton swabs like Q-tips that you use to remove earwax. Over time, this can cause complete blockage. “Earbuds, hearing aids and swim plugs can also push wax deeper with repeated use,” says Dr. Patel.

Earwax itself often doesn't cause any issues, but with excess buildup, you may have one or more of these common symptoms:  

• Hearing loss
• Earache
• Sense of ear fullness
• Itching in the ear
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Cough (impacted earwax can put pressure on a nerve that causes coughing)

The symptoms of impacted earwax can seem like other health conditions or problems. If you have any of these symptoms, talk with your care team to get a proper diagnosis.  

Diagnosing Impacted Earwax

Your physician can check for impacted earwax using an otoscope, a handheld device with a light and magnifying lens. Through the otoscope, your physician can look at the amount and consistency of your earwax and determine if it’s blocking your ear canal.

Treating Impacted Earwax

Treatment depends on your symptoms, age and health history. It also depends on the severity of your wax buildup.

Treatment options for impacted earwax include:

• Medicinal ear drops to soften and break down the earwax
• Irrigation (gentle rinse) of the ear canal with water in your physician’s office
• Manual removal using special tools in your physician’s office

You may need a combination of these methods for removal.

Chronic Earwax Buildup

If you have persistent wax buildup, your physician may recommend an at-home remedy such as over-the-counter ear drops. Using household products like mineral oil, olive oil, hydrogen peroxide or warm water to soften or remove earwax may also be effective, but medical guidance is strongly advised.

However, several common home methods are not recommended, as they can do more harm than good. These include:

• Ear candling. This is not recommended because it can cause burns and lead to wax getting stuck in your ear.
• At-home ear vacuum kits and earwax removal tools with cameras. These are also not recommended as they can cause ear problems like eardrum punctures and damage to your ear canal.

“Everyone has different ear canal physiology. While some people must have their wax removed every few months, most people never need to worry about it,” says Dr. Patel. “If you feel the need to clean, use a cotton swab around the outer edges of your ear, but avoid the ear canal.”