In addition to genetically predisposed earwax type and texture (“dry” or “wet”) there are three main factors that contribute to earwax impaction and these can present alone or in combination. People who insert cotton swabs or other items in their ears.Otitis externa (infection of the outer ear canal)īuildup of earwax can occur to anyone at any age, however certain populations are more prone to it, including:. Patients with earwax buildup can present with a variety of symptoms, including: Impacted earwax can cause injury and illness to the ear and can lead to more serious health conditions like ear irritation, loss of balance, and even hearing loss. Cotton swabs and other implements may push earwax further into the ear canal and are a major contributor to developing earwax impaction. Many people turn to cotton swabs to extract earwax, but this can exacerbate the problem. One study showed that 65.6% of residents in a skilled nursing facility have had cerumen impaction in at least one ear. If earwax does not migrate out of the ear canal through jaw movements, chewing, and skin growing from the inside of the ear out, earwax can build up or become impacted.Įarwax impaction is a relatively common disorder experienced by approximately 20% of people at some point during their lifetime, and it’s particularly prevalent in the elderly. Earwax (cerumen) is a combination of secretions from the sebaceous glands and the ceruminous glands and it typically moves naturally through the ear canal to the outside of the ear where it flakes off. Earwax, although it seems annoying and unnecessary, serves an important function: it protects ears with both lubricating and antibacterial properties.
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