Blocked ears can feel a little annoying.
A wax-filled ear is not only annoying, it can also cause pain, hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness.
And contrary to intuition, cleaning your ears with cotton swabs can actually worsen earwax buildup.
Earwax is produced in your ears to protect them from germs and keep them clean, according to an expert.
But Dr Samantha Wild, a general practitioner at Bupa Health Clinics, says that while it usually clears up on its own in the ears, too much can lead to congestion.
Blocked ears can feel a little annoying, but an ear full of earwax can not only be annoying, it can also cause pain, hearing loss, tinnitus and dizziness
And there are many things that can stop your ear from shedding earwax naturally, from headphones and hearing aids to swimming.
Here, MailOnline reveals all the things you didn’t know you were doing.
cotton swab
Many people know the satisfaction of using a cotton swab to remove dirt from your ears.
But the little tools, also known by the brand name Q-Tips, can do more harm than good.
READ MORE: A good ear full! From fingernails to Lego to dead moths, the ear doctor reveals all the weirdest objects he’s ever pulled out
“Rather than cleaning your ears, cotton swabs push the wax further into the ear and create a blockage,” said dr. Game.
According to Harley Street ENT doctors, the earwax can further press in and even rupture the ear drum.
The medics also claim that the wax can be compacted in this way, which can lead to hearing loss.
Bleeding and bruising can also result from using too much force.
Bath
Swimmer’s ear (medically known as otitis externa) is a bacterial infection, inflammation or irritation caused by water in your ear canal.
The ear canal is a tube that leads from the ear opening to the eardrum.
Swimmer’s ear can cause a build-up of earwax due to the inflammation of the ear canal.
If water stays in the ear canal, bacteria can multiply.
The infection mainly affects children and is not transmitted from person to person.
Swimmer’s ear isn’t just caused by a dip in the pool. Staying in hot, humid places, injuring the ear canal, and cleaning or scratching the ear canal with fingers or cotton swabs can also be triggers.
Ear drops are needed to kill the bacteria and reduce swelling. People with swimming ears are advised to take pain relievers and keep the ear dry.
In-ear headphones
Most people have in-ear headphones, either wired or Bluetooth.
But according to Dr. Wild, the necessities of modern times can be bad for your ears.
She said that with continued use, they can prevent wax from draining naturally from the ear or pushing it back into the ear.
Many people know the satisfaction of using a cotton swab to clean your ears, but the little tool, also known by the brand name Q-tips, can do more harm than good (file photo)
“They also increase the likelihood of bacteria or debris entering the ear, trapping wax and causing infection,” she added.
According to scientists at Bond University in Australia, headphones can compress earwax, making it less fluid and harder for the body to expel naturally.
Dr. Writing for The Conversation, Charlotte Phelps and professor of science and medicine Christian Moro said headphones can also trap moisture and sweat in the ears.
And they said headphones can restrict airflow and prevent earwax from drying out.
When its stickiness is retained, it encourages clumping.
skin diseases
But it’s not just the stuff you put in your ear that can cause a blockage.
Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are also culprits.
Both conditions lead to skin flakes, which dr. Wild can affect earwax as it builds up in the ear.
If you have eczema, you are at greater risk of developing the condition in your ear if it is exposed to sweat, high humidity, or some type of trauma such as scratching.
This includes eczema and psoriasis, as both conditions cause skin flakes.
When skin builds up in the ear, it can make earwaxing worse.
According to the National Eczema Association, infected ear eczema is caused by keeping your ears wet for a long time.
Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is a bacterial infection, inflammation or irritation caused by water in your ear canal (file photo)
hearing aids
If you wear hearing aids, you are more likely to build up earwax regularly, says Dr. Game.
She says hearing aids can increase the production of ear wax by the serous glands – sweat glands in the outer ear canal.
Dr Wild adds that wax can also clog hearing aids. It is therefore important that you clean it regularly.
If hearing aids are not cleaned consistently, wax and dirt come back into the ear, says Dr. John Carew of New York University Medical Center.
He added: “Hearing aids should be cleaned daily, left to dry overnight and brushed in the morning to remove wax and debris.”
ear plug
Like in-ear headphones, earplugs can interfere with the ear’s natural cleaning process.
Dr Wild says: “Earplugs are safe to sleep in, but prolonged use can push earwax back into the ear.
“This leads to a build-up of earwax, which leads to hearing loss and infection.”
There are different types of earplugs, and experts recommend avoiding some if you have washing problems.
If you wear hearing aids, you are more likely to build up earwax regularly, says Dr. Wild (file photo)
According to Just Ear Clinics, run by ENT specialists in the south of England, tapered foam and soft rubber earplugs are the main sources of problems.
Silicone eartips, or custom-made eartips that are made with a mold that fits your ear, just fill in the ear hole and “barely block the canal,” the group claims are a better choice.
hair in the ears
People can’t help it if they are particularly hairy.
But this can be a problem if you have a lot of hair in your ears.
DR Wild claims that excess hair can prevent wax from reaching the ear as easily.
Experts say hair in the ears acts as a barrier against bacteria and keeps them away from the eardrum.
Dr. David Liebovitz, associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University, claims that certain hormones, such as testosterone, can disrupt the hair follicle system.
He says this can cause men to get “coarser and thicker” hair in their ears as they get older.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
