Ear wax - gross or good?

Earwax is something that people don’t particularly enjoy talking about unless you are a microsuction practitioner and the prospect of removing it excites you. Everyone produces ear wax - we eat, we breathe, we sleep and (you guessed it) we produce earwax!

It’s not all gross! Earwax serves an important function! It is an important part of the ears defence against foreign materials such as microbes and dust etc. As such, some level of earwax is healthy and is necessary.

However, an excessive build-up of ear wax can be uncomfortable, painful and can affect hearing. Earwax can cause itchy ears, ear pain, tinnitus (ringing/sound - in one or both ears), hearing loss.

So what’s the solution?

Most of us reach for the cotton bud and have a dig around the ear canal - yanking out the ear wax is somewhat satisfying and a part of most of our hygiene routines.

This is actually dangerous. Cotton buds tend to push the ear wax deeper down the ear canal and may cause further complications. So how does one remove troublesome ear wax safely I hear you ask?

The answer Microsuction. Microsuction is the safest form of ear wax removal currently available. During this procedure, the microsuction practitioner uses a miniature vacuum to gently remove excess ear wax from your ear canal.

Before your microsuction appointment, we advise that you use olive oil ear drops twice a day (morning and evening) for up to a week before your appointment. This helps to soften the ear wax which allows the ear wax to be vacuumed away using the suction device with ease.

So how do you know when to have your ear wax removed?

Everyone produces different amounts of ear wax, and some produce it quicker than others. If you are having any pain or discomfort, we would recommend that you book an ear assessment to have your ear wax levels checked by our microsuction practitioner.

Hearing is essential to the communication that gives our lives meaning. Let's look after our ears like we look after our skin - if you book yourself facials, massages and other self-care treatments, perhaps it's time to give your ears a pamper and clean.