Earwax Buildup

What is earwax build-up?

Earwax is completely normal - your ears make it to protect themselves from dirt and germs. Usually, earwax falls out of your ears on its own without you noticing.

Sometimes though, earwax can build up and block your ear canal. This can cause problems with your hearing and make your ears feel uncomfortable.

Signs your earwax might be blocked

You might have earwax build-up if you notice:

• Your hearing seems worse than usual
• Your ears feel blocked or full
• Your ears hurt or feel uncomfortable
• You hear ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears
• You feel dizzy or sick

What you can do at home

Before seeing anyone, you can try to soften the earwax yourself:

1. Lie on your side with the blocked ear facing up
2. Put 2-3 drops of olive oil or almond oil in your ear (don't use almond oil if you're allergic to almonds)
3. Stay lying down for 5-10 minutes after adding the oil
4. Repeat this 3-4 times a day for 3-5 days

Over about 2 weeks, the softened earwax should fall out on its own and your symptoms should get better.

Important things NOT to do

Never use cotton buds, your fingers, or any other objects to try and remove earwax. This will only push the wax deeper into your ear and make the problem worse.

Don't use ear candles or ear vacuum devices - there's no proof these work and they could harm your ears.

When to get help from a pharmacist

Your local pharmacist can give you advice about earwax problems. They might suggest special ear drops that help dissolve the wax. These usually work within about a week.

Important: Don't use any ear drops if you have a hole in your eardrum.

When to see your GP

Speak to your GP if:

• Your symptoms haven't improved after 5 days of using oil drops
• Your ear is so blocked you can't hear anything at all (this could lead to an infection)
• You're worried about your symptoms

Treatment at your GP surgery

Not all GP surgeries can remove earwax, but some offer treatments like:

• Ear irrigation - flushing the wax out with water
• Microsuction - sucking the wax out with a small device
• Manual removal - carefully scraping out the wax

These treatments are usually painless. If your GP surgery doesn't offer earwax removal, they might refer you to another local NHS service, or you might need to pay for private treatment.

Can you prevent earwax build-up?

You can't stop your ears making wax - and you shouldn't want to, as it protects your ears. However, using olive oil or almond oil drops regularly can help keep earwax soft so it falls out naturally and doesn't build up.

Some people are more likely to get earwax build-up, especially if they have narrow ear canals, lots of hair in their ears, or certain skin conditions.

Remember, earwax is normal and healthy. Most of the time, your ears will sort themselves out without any help needed.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.