Cerumen Impaction

Cerumen is “ear wax.” This substance is produced by the ceruminous glands which are modified sweat glands in the outer part of your ear canal. This substance has a lubricating role. It intermixes with sloughed up skin in your ear canal and facilitates its natural migration out of your ear canal.

In cases where one has a narrow ear canal or the cerumin has a lesser lubricating quality, the “wax” accumulates in your ear canal. If it impacts within the ear canal, the conduction of sound to your ear canal is impeded resulting in a conductive hearing loss. This is often made worse by the use of cotton swabs with the intention of removing this wax. What occurs instead is ear pain from removing the lubricating substance of your ear canal skin and irritation of the skin itself with the cotton. Furthermore, the wax is often pushed further towards the ear drum.

Removal of this wax can be facilitated by augmenting the lubricating effects of cerumen by adding baby oil with an eye dropper. Should this not work adequately, the “wax” should be removed by a healthcare professional.