What\nEarwax Is Healthy? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"candle](\"https:\/\/hamptonroadsent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/candle-wax.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHealthy\nearwax can present in a variety of colors depending on the person and how old\nthe wax is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Off-white or yellow<\/strong> earwax indicates fresh earwax. This color is likely\nfound deeper in the ear canal. <\/li>
- Orange or dark orange <\/strong>earwax that is sticky or flakey is older earwax. The\ndarker it is, the more debris it has picked up. <\/li>
- Brown <\/strong>earwax is very old, and most likely is close to exiting\nthe ear. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Earwax\ncan also be other colors, although this usually indicates a problem within the\near. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Green or green-tinted<\/strong> earwax, especially when accompanied by\npus or a foul smell, likely indicates infection. <\/li>
- Red-streaked, bloody <\/strong>earwax can indicate injury, a bug bite in the ear canal\nor a ruptured eardrum. <\/li>
- Gray or black <\/strong>earwax occurs when there are particles in the ear or when\nearwax is impacted. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Texture of earwax can depend on a variety of factors, such as age of earwax, genetics and a person\u2019s age. For example, a 2006 study<\/a> linked people of East Asian descent to drier, flakier earwax, and children tend to have softer, lighter earwax than adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEar\nSafety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While it\nmay be tempting to stick a cotton swab or bobby pin into the ear to clean out\n\u201cexcessive\u201d earwax, audiologists warn against this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inserting\nanything into the ear canal increases risk of pushing wax further into the\ncanal and causing it to become impacted, and it is all too easy to stick\nsomething too far into the ear and injure or rupture the eardrum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people use ear candles to remove wax and debris, but researchers warn against this too<\/a>, citing risk of burns without any real benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTo clean\nthe ears, simply wash the outer ear with mild soap and water and wipe moisture\naway with a towel. This is all the cleaning that the ears need in most cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are experiencing impacted earwax, you can purchase over-the-counter eardrops, which will soften wax to help it work itself out. If this doesn\u2019t work, you can visit your audiologist<\/a> for an earwax removal appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHealthy\nearwax can present in a variety of colors depending on the person and how old\nthe wax is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Off-white or yellow<\/strong> earwax indicates fresh earwax. This color is likely\nfound deeper in the ear canal. <\/li>
- Orange or dark orange <\/strong>earwax that is sticky or flakey is older earwax. The\ndarker it is, the more debris it has picked up. <\/li>
- Brown <\/strong>earwax is very old, and most likely is close to exiting\nthe ear. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Earwax\ncan also be other colors, although this usually indicates a problem within the\near. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Green or green-tinted<\/strong> earwax, especially when accompanied by\npus or a foul smell, likely indicates infection. <\/li>
- Red-streaked, bloody <\/strong>earwax can indicate injury, a bug bite in the ear canal\nor a ruptured eardrum. <\/li>
- Gray or black <\/strong>earwax occurs when there are particles in the ear or when\nearwax is impacted. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Texture of earwax can depend on a variety of factors, such as age of earwax, genetics and a person\u2019s age. For example, a 2006 study<\/a> linked people of East Asian descent to drier, flakier earwax, and children tend to have softer, lighter earwax than adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ear\nSafety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While it\nmay be tempting to stick a cotton swab or bobby pin into the ear to clean out\n\u201cexcessive\u201d earwax, audiologists warn against this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inserting\nanything into the ear canal increases risk of pushing wax further into the\ncanal and causing it to become impacted, and it is all too easy to stick\nsomething too far into the ear and injure or rupture the eardrum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people use ear candles to remove wax and debris, but researchers warn against this too<\/a>, citing risk of burns without any real benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To clean\nthe ears, simply wash the outer ear with mild soap and water and wipe moisture\naway with a towel. This is all the cleaning that the ears need in most cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are experiencing impacted earwax, you can purchase over-the-counter eardrops, which will soften wax to help it work itself out. If this doesn\u2019t work, you can visit your audiologist<\/a> for an earwax removal appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Red-streaked, bloody <\/strong>earwax can indicate injury, a bug bite in the ear canal\nor a ruptured eardrum. <\/li>
- Orange or dark orange <\/strong>earwax that is sticky or flakey is older earwax. The\ndarker it is, the more debris it has picked up. <\/li>