Barnstaple ear wax removal,

Ear wax, to oil or not to oil?

 

To Oil or Not to Oil?

I get asked this question everyday and the quick answer is – yes, mostly it is of benefit!

But let’s look at the complexities more closely – firstly we need to establish whether the full feeling, pain, or itchiness in your ear/ears is due to wax or infection (normally Otitis externa – an outer ear infection).  If you felt you were experiencing the latter (there is a watery discharge and usually pain) then oil is of no benefit – head straight to your GP for a swab of the ear canal and possible antibiotics.

South Molton ear wax removal

 

However if we are certain that the blocked feeling is due to wax then yes – oil is a benefit. There are just two important rules here when oiling – volume and frequency.

Our goal here is to just oil the canal and soften the wax slightly.  If we over-oil then we end up spreading the wax over the surface of the ear drum which is less comfortable to have suctioned off.

So the key is to oil only one day prior (two applications is satisfactory). Using an eye dropper is the easiest – half fill the eye dropper with plain olive oil – lying on your side is the easiest way – slowly insert the oil – massage the tragus (The tragus is a small pointed eminence of the external ear) gently post application, as oil likes to sit in a bubble sometimes and massaging will allow it to penetrate deep into the canal.  Stay lying on your side for 5 – 10 minutes. Use a cotton ball or piece of tissue to catch any excess oil.

Ear wax removal near Bude Cornwall

 

There is only one exception to the rule.  In this case, we would NOT apply oil if we (as above suspected an outer ear infection) or suspected a perforated ear drum (Tympanic Membrane). A perforation is usually associated with pain, hearing loss and normally a discharge but not always.  Oil would be of no value and we do not want oil to seeping into the middle ear space.

If you are unsure if oiling is going to be of value prior to Microsuction then a quick chat on the telephone or popping into our clinic for a quick view through the microscope might be the better option.

Barnstaple ear wax removal,

To Oil or Not to Oil? When to oil your ears

I get asked this question everyday and the quick answer is – yes, mostly it is of benefit!

But let’s look at the complexities more closely – firstly we need to establish whether the full feeling, pain, or itchiness in your ear/ears is due to wax or infection (normally Otitis externa – an outer ear infection).  If you felt you were experiencing the latter (there is a watery discharge and usually pain) then oil is of no benefit – head straight to your GP for a swab of the ear canal and possible antibiotics.

However if we are certain that the blocked feeling is due to wax then yes – oil is a benefit. There are just two important rules here when oiling – volume and frequency.

Our goal here is to just oil the canal and soften the wax slightly.  If we over-oil then we end up spreading the wax over the surface of the ear drum which is less comfortable to have suctioned off.

So the key is to oil only one day prior (two applications is satisfactory). Using an eye dropper is the easiest – half full the eye dropper with olive oil – lying on your side is the easiest way – slowly insert the oil – massage the tragus (The tragus is a small pointed eminence of the external ear) gently post application, as oil likes to sit in a bubble sometimes and massaging will allow it to penetrate deep into the canal.  Stay lying on your side for 5 – 10 minutes. Use a cotton ball or piece of tissue to catch any excess oil.

Ear wax removal near South Molton

 

There is only one exception to the rule (gee there is always one!).  In this case, we would NOT apply oil if we (as above suspected an outer ear infection) or suspected a perforated ear drum (Tympanic Membrane). A perforation is usually associated with pain, hearing loss and normally a discharge but not always.  Oil would be of no value and we do not want oil to seeping into the middle ear space.

If you are unsure if oiling is going to be of value prior to Microsuction then a quick chat on the telephone or popping into our clinic for a quick checkup.

If you are in South Molton, Bude or Bideford we can remove ear wax almost on the same day. We have appointments available  now.
Ear wax removal North Devon, ear syringing Bideford, Ear syringing Torrington, Ear syringing Holsworthy,

Ear wax removal clinic North Devon

 

Ear wax removal clinic North Devon is about to open soon. Based in Torrington at number 4 Well Street the new ear wax clinic will be fully functioning very soon. The traditional ear syringing method is now not the gold standard. Microsuction is like using a tiny hoover and is the NHS preferred way to remove stubborn wax.

Ear wax removal North Devon, ear syringing Bideford, Ear syringing Torrington, Ear syringing Holsworthy,

New ear wax removal clinic in Torrington

 

Ear wax removal clinic North Devon

North Devon ear syringing clinic

Five things you should know about earwax

North Devon ear wax removal

 

When you hear the word “earwax”, you might immediately think YUCK! But, did you know that earwax actually plays an important role in the health of your ear? I’d like to share some facts about earwax and the part it plays in a healthy ear.

1. Earwax is not YUCK at all

In fact, earwax is a requirement of a healthy ear canal. It is a product of two glands that are in the ear canal: sweat glands (known as “apocrine sweat glands”) and cerumen glands (known as “sebaceous glands”). Without earwax, ear canals would be dry and itchy. As a result, the ear canals would be more susceptible to scrapes and cuts from scratching.

2. The ear is designed to naturally rid itself of earwax

The skin cells in the ear canal are “migratory” skin cells. New skin cells in the ear canal are formed near the ear drum and then tend to work their way outward over time, carrying earwax and debris with them. These are called “migratory cells” because they migrate their way from inside the ear canal to outside the ear canal.

3. Earwax problems are less common than you think

Thanks to the migratory process of the ear canal, a true “earwax problem” is not as common as you might think. In fact, those who are most at risk for impacted earwax are (1) older adults (2) hearing aid users (3) those who use cotton swabs. Rarely will a person who doesn’t fall into one of these categories experience ear canal blockage due to excess earwax.

4. Cotton swabs should NOT be used to clean your ears

Speaking of cotton swabs, PLEASE DON’T USE THEM FOR EARWAX REMOVAL! What you are actually doing — instead of removing earwax — is wiping away wax in the outer 1/3 of the ear canal and pushing any remaining wax deeper into the ear canal. The most safe, effective way to remove problem cerumen is to visit a physician or hearing healthcare professional who can see into your ear canal then determine the best way to remove the earwax, if needed. Otherwise, simple hygiene practices, such as wiping the surface of the ear canal with a cloth while showering, should be sufficient to keep earwax from causing a problem.

5. Excessive earwax can be mistaken for hearing loss

Hearing loss is often blamed on earwax, but the actual problem is with the inner ear. Thousands of people who think they are experiencing hearing loss due to wax build-up are seen annually by hearing healthcare professionals when the true problem is hearing loss.

If you have ANY questions or concerns about the health of your ear or your hearing, we hear at the Devon ear clinic can

help with ear wax removal.