Ear wax, also known as cerumen, is a natural substance produced by glands in the ear canal. While it often goes unnoticed, the color and consistency of ear wax can provide important clues about your ...

Impacted earwax is very common, and it gets even more common as you get older. The reason? Earwax becomes less pliant with age, and is therefore more likely to get stuck. It can also cause ...

To remove impacted cerumen, instill liquid docusate (Colace) for five minutes, then wash out. —Smitha Manoj, MD, Metuchen, N.J. Colace is frequently used in pediatric ERs to remove earwax. This agent ...

YOU MIGHT HAVE an earache. Things may sound muffled, or your ear might feel full. These are signs you could have earwax buildup. Earwax usually isn’t something to worry about. A certain amount of wax ...

Cerumen impaction is a prevalent condition that can result in discomfort, hearing difficulties and, potentially, a broader impact on quality of life. The accumulation of earwax, a naturally protective ...

Ear wax buildup is one of the things that could be the cause of your tinnitus. You can treat mild impactions at home, but you may need to contact a professional for severe ones. Tinnitus happens when ...

It turns out, you shouldn’t use a cotton swab to clean out your ears. Your ears are self-cleaning machines, with very little maintenance required. One of its best defenses? Earwax. Earwax is a ...

Cotton swabs “really weren’t made to clean your ears — all they do is just push the wax deeper down into your ear canal and this causes an impaction,” Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, who goes by Dr. Nose Best, ...

Ear wax, medically known as cerumen, serves as your body’s natural cleaning and protection system for the ears. While some odor is normal, understanding when that smell signals a problem can help ...

FORT WAYNE, IN - December 19, 2025 - - What starts as a strange and satisfying moment, earwax falling out on its own, could be a warning sign that your ears need professional help, according to a new ...

It's a habit so ingrained it feels almost automatic: grabbing a cotton swab to clean out your ears after a shower. For many, the satisfaction of seeing earwax on the tip provides a deceptive sense of ...