{"id":157,"date":"2019-07-23T12:33:54","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T16:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.fm1.dev\/ear\/earwax-removal\/"},"modified":"2021-09-21T13:10:10","modified_gmt":"2021-09-21T17:10:10","slug":"earwax-removal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/ear-hearing\/ear\/earwax-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Earwax Removal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Earwax\n(cerumen) is a yellowish waxy substance produced by healthy ears. Earwax\nprotects the ear from bacteria, water and foreign particles. It also assists in\nthe cleaning and lubrication of the ear canal. Usually, excess wax is removed\nfrom the ear canal naturally. If a buildup does occur, the earwax will become\nhard and block the ear.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes of Earwax Blockage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A blockage of earwax is usually caused by an overproduction of earwax or insufficient cleaning.\u00a0 Surprisingly, the most common cause of a blockage is incorrect at-home earwax removal. Often, instead of cleaning out the earwax it just pushes it deeper inside the ear. Earphone\u00a0and earplug\u00a0usage can also cause wax buildup, as the earphones can prevent earwax<\/a> from naturally coming out of the ear canal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of Earwax Blockage <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Earaches<\/a>, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss and ringing in the ear (tinnitus<\/a>) are all common signs of earwax blockage. If the earwax is not removed an infection can develop. This would include severe pain in the ear that does not subside and a fever. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor, as these may also be signs of a more serious condition.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treatment for Earwax Blockage  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In order to diagnose a buildup of earwax, your doctor will need to look in your ear with a special magnifying instrument called an otoscope. Once diagnosed, your doctor can remove the wax buildup in a few ways: with a small curved instrument called a curet, through suction or by flushing out the wax using a water pick or warm water. If this continues to be a problem, wax-removal medications may be recommended.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as your ear is healthy and does not have a tube<\/a> or hole in it, at-home treatments can be helpful to manage earwax buildup. An eyedropper can be used to apply a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal; this is done to soften the wax.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once soft, after an hour or a few days, the wax is ready\nto be removed. A rubber-bulb syringe can be used to gently squirt warm water\ninto the ear canal. Once the water has drained out of the ear, the ear should\nbe dried with a towel. This procedure can be repeated several times until the\nwax has been removed.   <\/p>\n\n\n

Call our Hampton office at (757) 825-2500<\/span><\/a> or our Williamsburg office at (757) 253-8722<\/span><\/a> for more information or to schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earwax (cerumen) is a yellowish waxy substance produced by healthy ears. Earwax protects the ear from bacteria, water and foreign particles. It also assists in the cleaning and lubrication of the ear canal. Usually, excess wax is removed from the ear canal naturally. If a buildup does occur, the earwax will become hard and block…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":152,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"[phone format=none] | An earwax blockage can be painful. Learn about home and in-patient treatment methods. Call to find out if an ENT visit is required.","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"