by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

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Question What should a person do about earwax?  What's that you say? Huh?? :)

--Judy, Tennessee

Answer Most people don't need to clean out the earwax.  It's there for protection and comes out gradually and naturally on its own.  However, some people produce a little too much or impede the natural process by packing the wax in with earplugs, earbuds, etc.  They may begin to have muffled hearing.

If it's giving you trouble, here are some suggestions.

1. DON'T use cotton swabs, such as Q-tips. It just packs the wax in, and may damage your ears. The little hairs in your ears will naturally bring the wax out in most people. Never use anything to clean your ears smaller than a finger in a wash cloth.
2. DON'T use ear candles.  Again, you can damage your ears.  The debris you see after using it is waste from the procedure, not contents from your ear.
3. DO purchase an earwax removal kit. Put a few drops of the solution in your ears, before bedtime, for several nights.  The wax will become soft and may come out on its on during the night.  If it doesn't, try irrigating your ears with the bulb syringe that comes with the kit.  Use lukewarm water so you won't get dizzy.
4. If that works, DO use the solution in your ears at night every week or so to keep the wax soft and coming out.  You won't need the syringe again or rarely.

If that doesn't work, most any primary-care provider can irrigate the wax out for you.

JAMES HUBBARD, M.D., M.P.H., publishes James Hubbard's My Family Doctor, the magazine written by health-care professionals for the general public.  He has been a family doctor for over 25 years.

Last updated and/or approved: January 2009.

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