The medical term for earwax is cerumen, which comes from cera, Latin for wax. It starts as a mixture of fatty secretions from the sebaceous glands and sweat glands in the walls of the outer ear canal. Jaw movement from chewing or talking helps propel those secretions through the canal to the ear opening, where they dry up and harmlessly flake off. Earwax Chandler buildup in the ear canal can cause ear aches, infections, and other issues. Earwax Chandler can cause a cough if it becomes lodged in a specific area of the vagus nerve that supplies the outer ear. Not surprisingly, an excess of earwax Chandler can cause some hearing loss. Earwax Chandler that picks up a lot of debris or sits in the ear canal for a long time can get hard and dry, so it is more likely to cause a blockage. Conditions that produce a lot of dry, flaking skin, like eczema, can also result in hard earwax Chandler. And with age, the glandular secretions change consistency, so they do not travel as easily through the ear canal. Some people are simply born producing dry earwax that may be more likely to clump. For example, dry earwax is more common in East Asians. Dead skin and other debris combine with secretions from sebaceous and modified sweat glands to create earwax. Earwax Chandler forms in the outer third or some of the ear canal, not near the eardrum. Therefore, when there is a buildup right up against the eardrum, it is often the result of failed removal attempts.
Earwax Chandler is an oil-like substance. Thus, some oils can cause earwax to soften when the two substances come into contact. Proponents of this remedy suggest using the following oils:
- Baby oil
- Coconut oil
- Glycerin
- Mineral oil
- Olive oil
If you feel that you have an earwax Chandler problem, your first step is to check with a doctor. They can decide if it is a condition to address, a symptom of an underlying condition, or something to let your body handle without assistance. Being overly aggressive with removing wax from your ears can sometimes lead to problems with your hearing or ear canals becoming itchy, painful, or more prone to infection. When reviewing your concerns with your doctor, discuss home remedy ideas to see if it is the correct course of action for your situation. Your doctor might also recommend a visit with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
