Introduction
Earwax, which is also called cerumen, fulfils important functions in the ear. It is a bitter, yellowish, greasy secretion of the external auditory canal. The earwax glands produce it.
They are called Glandulae ceruminosae in medical terminology. It contains mainly fats, cholesterol and cholesterol esters but also important enzymes that give earwax an antibacterial component, among other things. It protects the auditory canal from foreign bodies and insects and prevents their penetration. It also removes dust, foreign materials, dirt, bacteria, fungi and dead skin cells from the ear canal. Frequent washing or swimming can damage this natural barrier and cause severe earaches.
How can I remove earwax myself?
The ears have their own self-cleaning mechanisms, which should be supported at best. Fine hairs in the ear move foreign bodies, dirt particles, dead skin cells and excess earwax away from the auditory canal towards the auricle. This excess “waste” is then best removed gently from the auricle with a warm, damp cloth.
However, you should not use it to penetrate the ear canal. You can do without soap. When showering, you can rinse your ears carefully with lukewarm water and then dry them.
Again, you should make sure that no soap or shampoo gets into the ears. This can cause irritation. If the auricles are very dry or itchy, a few drops of baby oil can help.
The skin behind the ears should also be cleaned, as this is often forgotten. Cotton swabs should be avoided when cleaning the ears. These push the earwax only ever further into the depth of the ear, instead of removing it.
This can lead to a blockage. In the worst case, the eardrum can also be damaged if the wax penetrates too deeply. There are various aids that are suitable for cleaning the ears at home.
These are presented in more detail below. 1. ear drops: Ear drops are available for little money (from 5 Euro) in pharmacies without prescription. The exact application and dosage can be taken from the package insert.
Usually, one drips a few drops into the affected ear and lets them work for 15 to 30 minutes. The drops dissolve the cerumen. However, ear drops should not be used if there are previous diseases of the ears, the auditory apparatus or inflammations.
Otherwise, they are usually very well tolerated. In order to make the application more pleasant, the ear drops should be warmed up in the hand beforehand. 2. ear sprays: Ear sprays also soften the cerumen, so that it can be easily rinsed out with a little water after the application.
It is very easy to use, because you can simply insert the spray head into the ear. It is very suitable for people with a little tough earwax, as it facilitates the natural cleaning of the ear. 3. balloon injections: Balloon syringes are small aids for rinsing the ear.
You can fill them with water and thus rinse the ear a little more precisely. 4. other: Often you can find a number of electronic devices, pliers and other things for cleaning the ears, especially on the Internet. In your own interest, you should keep your distance from such technical aids.
In most cases they are completely useless and have no effect. In the worst case they can even damage the ear. There are also some home remedies that make it easier to clean your ears.
Steam baths or warming pads can soften the earwax and make it easier to rinse it out. Steam baths soften the earwax through their warmth and thus make it easier to rinse out the ears. To do this, you pour steaming water into a bowl and, if necessary, you can add soothing ingredients such as chamomile or essential oils to the water.
Then hold the ear over the steam bath for a few minutes and rinse it out. Other warming pads, such as warm washcloths, also have a similar effect. In addition, high-quality oils such as almond oil can also be used.
The oils are carefully trickled into the ear (a few drops are enough!) and rinsed with lukewarm water after 15 to 30 minutes. They soften the cerumen like ear drops and sprays.
High-quality oils such as almond oil have a better effect than other oils. With all household remedies the last step is the same, namely rinsing the ears. One should dry the ears well afterwards.Do not manipulate the auditory canal with cotton swabs or similar!
It is also not recommended to put your own hand on the ears in case of a hearing loss or a very tight plug. In these cases, a doctor should be consulted directly. It is also not advisable to use home remedies in the case of pre-existing ear diseases and inflammations.
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