When you start to hear your own voice resonating in your ears, it is a sure sign you are having an excessive build-up of earwax. It can get little disturbing when one side of your ear works just perfectly while the other side is resonating your own voice. Every time you try to get relief from the problem by applying little pressure, you just realize it is not helping in any way. Earwax removal is a two-step process. First, you need to loosen up the wax a bit, followed by an ear wash to flush out the earwax.
Why do you have earwax?
Earwax is as important as you might hate it. Medically it is termed as cerumen. Your ears need earwax to keep the dirt, and small insects from reaching the middle part of your ear, which is very sensitive. However, when there is an excessive secretion of earwax, in the process of clearing out the wax build up, you might end up pushing it further inside. Sometimes, the cerumen can harden in the deeper part of your ear. This leads to earaches, hearing loss, vertigo, ringing sounds etc..
Loosen it up using traditional method
When you have excessive earwax buildup do not try to remove it using earbuds, you might end up pushing it deeper. The first step of the process is to loosen and soften up the wax as much as possible. You can do this using a simple trick. Massage the area just behind your earlobe gently for 3 to 5 minutes. After massaging pull your earlobe while opening and closing your mouth rapidly.
Rinse it out
- Point your ears upwards, lie down if you want to. and pour few drops of warm hydrogen peroxide solution. Keep your ears pointed in the same direction for 2 to 3 minutes. Use a hand towel and tilt your head another way so that the hydrogen peroxide solution is drained out. This process will soften up the ear wax. Next step would be to flush out the softened wax. Now point your ears upwards again and use a bulb syringe and squirt warm water into your ears gently, let the water settle down. Tilt your head other way and let the water and softened wax run out of your ears. Clean up the earwax outside your ear using a washcloth or cotton balls.
- If hydrogen peroxide is not working well for you, you can try using baby oil or mineral. Pour few drops of warm baby oil or mineral in your affected ears while pointing it upwards. Keep your head in the same position for 2 to 3 minutes and let the oil settle down in your ears. Leave it for up to 60 minutes and let the oil soften up the wax buildup. After this time, you can gently squirt water in your ears using a bubble syringe to flush out the oil and earwax. Turn your head side to side till all the water is drained out.
Dry out your ears
Once you are done with cleaning up the wax out of your ears. Make use of a hairdryer, while maintaining a distance of at least 10 to 12 inches from your ears, direct the warm air inside your ear and let it dry up. Make sure to use the coolest setting.
When to Seek Doctor’s Help?
Earwax is a common and normal problem. If your problem doesn’t ease up after trying out the above mentioned simple home remedies, and its lasting for more than a week, then get it treated by a Doctor. You would need to consult your Doctor if you experience itching, swelling, pain, ear discharge, ringing sound in your ears, vertigo, and dizziness. These are strong symptoms of a serious ear infection. Additionally, if you have any of these symptoms do not try out any home remedies or pour any oil or hydrogen peroxide in your ears without consulting your Doctor.
How to Prevent
- After taking a shower or bath, try to dry out your outer earlobes thoroughly. Also never insert a cotton swab or cotton buds into your ears, you will end up pushing it deeper. Remember that deeper part of your ears do not have any oil glands to soften up the ear wax, so it will harden up and lead to ear pain and hearing problems. Another risk factor involving cotton swabs is that, when you insert it way deeper in your ears, you might up damaging the eardrums and ear canal.
- If you are frequently experiencing problems with earwax, the source of the problem could be your food. Foods rich in saturated fats like chicken, mutton, and other animal meats and hydrogenated fats present in certain processed foods can increase the production of earwax. Some researchers believe these foods will make the earwax to be more sticky making it difficult to handle. Try replacing animal fats with healthier options like nuts and seeds.
- Wipe the earwax out of the hearing aid equipment with a tissue every night if you are using one. This will prevent the accumulation of earwax.
- Some adults and most older people have more hair growth in their ears. If you do, then trim it out using an ear-hair trimmer or with a small scissor. This will prevent the earwax from getting enmeshed with hair in the ear canal.