What is earwax?

Earwax is normal and is not a serious problem. Earwax is the normal build-up of natural wax, dead cells and hair which creates a protective coating on the skin in the ear canal. Everyone is different and the amount of earwax you produce will vary from person to person.

How to tell your ear is blocked with earwax

If you are experiencing the following symptoms this could be a cause of earwax build up:

• Earache
• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Dizziness / Vertigo

How should I remove earwax?

Earwax does fall out on its own, if you feel that it hasn’t done so you can remove earwax using the options available below.

Please Do Not use earbuds or ear candling to clean the ear canal as these can make things worse. Earbuds are likely to push earwax deeper inside and could cause you further problems e.g., ear infection.

If you have had an ear perforation in the past you should follow the advice you have been given previously about managing your earwax. If you need this clarifying please speak with a clinician or request advice using our online consultation service.

You can also speak to a local pharmacist as they can give advice and suggest treatments for earwax.

Ear Drops – How do they work?

Ear drops help to clear lumps of earwax from the ear canal. All you need to do is put 2 to 3 drops of olive oil in your ear twice a day for a period of up to 3 weeks.

This will soften the earwax so that it comes out of your ear on its own accord and will not harm the ear. You may not see the wax come out as it often comes out unnoticed.

If you suffer with recurrent earwax build up, you can repeat this process at any point and may wish to consider using olive oil drops on a regular basis.

If you find that olive oil does not work, you can buy sodium bicarbonate drops from pharmacies as an alternative.

Ear Drops – How to use

1. Warm the drops to room temperature before using them
2. Lie down with the affected ear facing upwards
3. Apply 2 - 3 drops into the affected ear
4. Stay like this for 10 minutes to allow the drops to soak into the earwax.

Bulb Syringing – How does this work?

This is an alternative method to removing earwax at home and can be purchased from a pharmacy.

Bulb Syringing – How to use

1. Olive oil drops need to be used twice a day for at least 14 days prior to bulb syringing
2. Wash your hands
3. Use a bowl of cooled, boiled water that is warm to the touch, not too hot or too cold
4. Prepare the syringe by squirting water in and out of it a few times
5. Gently pull your outer ear "up and out" to help straighten out the canal, which will allow better access for the water
6. Tilt your head so the ear to be treated is
7. Place the tip of the syringe into the opening of the ear. Do NOT push the syringe further into the ear and gently squirt one or more bulb syringes of water into your ear. (This might be best done in the shower so that the excess water will run into the bathtub and not on your floor)
8. Allow the water to remain in your ear for at least 60 seconds. Gently tilt your head in the opposite direction and wiggle your outer

If, after 3 weeks or more, you are still deaf from wax, you will need to make an appointment with a doctor or nurse to decide what should be done.

Earwax can be removed privately at local hearing centres:

Onward Referral

If earwax continues to cause you to have symptoms, you can be referred to a local specialist GP or NHS hospital for microsuction. There is a waiting list for these services and you will have been expected to try the methods above first.