The cerumen plug is formed when the quantity of ceruminous secretion produced is excessively abundant, or when its normal outward sliding motion is altered.
A step back to understand ...
Earwax is a waxy substance normally produced by the sebaceous and ceruminous glands of the external ear canal. A right amount of earwax is essential to maintain a certain humidity in the ear (thus reducing the risk of drying) and to hinder the entry of harmful particles (pathogens, dust, water, etc.).
- Excessive amount of water inside the ear: earwax is a hygroscopic substance (it adsorbs water), therefore in contact with water it tends to swell. By increasing in volume, earwax can obstruct the ear canal.
- Ear disorders (eg otitis, inflammatory stenosis of the external auditory canal)
- Hearing aids: hearing aids hinder the physiological leakage of ear wax, therefore favoring the formation of the ceruminous plug.
- Poor / incorrect ear hygiene: mechanical cleaning of the ears, performed with cotton buds, can paradoxically create a plug of ear wax. The "cleaning" with the cotton-covered sticks, in fact, tends to compact the ear wax, pushing it towards the inside of the ear canal. In severe cases, such behavior can even cause the eardrum to be perforated.
- Tumors (e.g. osteoma: benign bone cancer that occurs mainly in the bones of the skull)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Autophony (rumble of your own voice)
- Hearing loss (reduced hearing ability)
- Ear hurt
- Full ear perception
- Feeling of loss of balance / dizziness
How to use the drops to remove the earwax plug
- Tilt the head sideways, with the ear occluded by the wax plug upwards
- Instill the drops in the ear
- Remain in the same position for a couple of minutes
- Remove loose ear wax from the ear canal
- Gently rinse with warm water to remove residual earwax. Do not aim jets of water directly into the ear canal.
WATERING OR WASHING
It essentially consists of introducing a jet of water directly into the ear canal. Before the maneuver, it is advisable to instill a few drops of oil (including cooking oil) in the ear, a useful precaution to soften the earwax: by doing so, the removal of the plug is facilitated.
During washing, water is sprayed into the ear with the help of a filled syringe. To facilitate removal of the earwax plug, it is recommended to gently pull the ear upwards, as far back as possible (towards the ear). scalp); then, direct the nozzle of the syringe (filled with water) slightly upwards towards the ear canal, to facilitate the escape of the ear wax.
After the procedure, tilt your head to help release ear wax from the ear canal.
Watering may need to be repeated several times.
In place of water, it is possible to use:
- saline solution
- water + vinegar solution
- water + baking soda solution
Please note:
- Although washing the earwax plug is a rather simple maneuver, care must be taken during the procedure, given the risks of rupturing the tympanic membrane or lacerating the skin of the ear canal.
- Use lukewarm water to wash the earwax plug: the use of water that is too cold or excessively hot compared to body temperature can cause dizziness.
- Do not practice washing the earwax plug in case of otitis or eardrum perforation: such an attitude can create severe pain and dizziness.
- The water jet used to remove the earwax plug should be sprayed more gently on children.
- Stop the procedure immediately if the patient complains of severe dizziness, nausea or severe pain during irrigation.
CURETTE (or curettage)
The curette is a particular curved instrument used by the doctor to remove the plug of wax accumulated in the ear. The curette has a particular end, very useful to prevent the doctor from entering too deep into the ear canal.
The "curettage" method is used to remove earwax plugs responsible for impaired hearing or partial occlusion of the duct.
This practice for removing the earwax plug is particularly common among Asian peoples: we remember, in fact, that Asians tend to have a drier ear wax, easily removable with this method.
SUCTION OF CERUME
The earwax plug can also be removed by suction: the method, which must be performed exclusively by professionals, consists in the literal removal of the earwax by means of a "special cannula connected to a suction device. The suction of the earwax plug is a second choice practice, generally used in case of contraindications to auricular irrigation.
