THE human body often finds ways to indicate when something is amiss, be it through headaches or vomiting or through secretions such as snot and saliva.
But have you ever stopped to think what your earwax might be telling you about your health?
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While many of us deem earwax uncomfortable, itchy, and unsightly, it actually serves an important function.
Not only does it protect the ear canal, it could also act as a prompt to seek medical help.
Audiologist Ashish Shah at The Hearing Care Partnership has divulged everything you need to know when it comes to the colour and consistency of your earwax - and what it might be telling you about your health.
She said: "Earwax can be a bit gross, and whilst we always recommend having your ears cleaned professionally, there are times in which you are likely to do it yourself at home and may notice changes in either the colour, texture or smell of your earwax.
Read more on earwax
"Interestingly, what comes out of our ears can give us a good indication of what is going on deeper in the ear, so it is something to keep an eye on.”
From yellow wax to a smelly secretion, Ashish explains what it all could mean.
YELLOW TO LIGHT BROWN
Yellow or light brown is what people often see inside their ears.
And it's the sign of healthy functioning ear wax, said Ashish. He added: "We would typically expect it to be this colour."
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DARK BROWN
When ear wax is dark brown, it often means the wax has been in the ear for a while and will likely be quite hard.
Wax of this colour could indicate there is a build-up that should be removed by a professional.
Moment doctors make VERY grim discovery inside patient’s ear during routine wax removal after she couldn't hear properly
Ashish explained: "Many factors can cause a build-up of ear wax such as general overproduction of wax, infection and inflammation, over-cleaning, narrow or damaged ear canals and prolonged use of earphones and ear plugs.”
Other signs you could have earwax build-up
Symptoms of earwax build-up include:
- hearing loss
- earache or a feeling that your ears are blocked
- ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
- vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)
Do not use your fingers or any objects like cotton buds to remove earwax. This will push it in and make it worse.
A pharmacist can give advice and suggest treatments.
Source: NHS
RED
When ear wax presents itself as red, whether that's bright red or a brownish red, this indicates there has been a bleed within the ear which has occurred.
Ashish said: "Typically this is a result of damage caused by using cotton buds, but we’d always recommend you get it checked out by your GP.”
GREEN OR CREAM
Greens and creamy colours can be a sign of an infection.
These can be, but are not always, linked with pain, dizziness or discharge from the ears, said Ashish.
He recommended: "If you suspect an infection is present, we would advise you to see your GP.”
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SMELLY
If you are noticing a strong odour from your ears, this could indicate an infection in the middle part of your ear, warned Ashish.
He said: "This may also come along with additional symptoms such as dizziness or a lack of balance, ringing in your ears or a blocked feeling in your ears.
"This is something you will want to address with your GP as early as possible to avoid any possible infection progressing."
DRY OR FLAKY
Dry or flaky earwax is normally nothing to worry about and can be quite normal for some.
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As we get older, glands tend to dry out, so those of an older age can expect to find drier wax inside their ears.
But Ashish cautioned: "If you experience dry or flaky earwax alongside itching, inflammation, soreness or even a loss of hearing, this could indicate a condition such as eczema or an ear infection and is best to be seen by a GP to confirm and treat.”
What to avoid when cleaning your ears
WHEN it comes to cleaning your ears at home, certain methods risk permanently damage your hearing.
So it’s important to take proper care if you do decide to clean your ears at home.
Boots advises against the following two methods:
Ear candling
This involves placing a lit, hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear canal. While many people online claim how effective it is, Boots doesn't recommend it as a treatment. This is because it can cause serious injuries and burns, and has been known to pierce the inside of the ear.
Inserting items in your ear
From cotton buds to stainless steel earwax tools, bobby pins to tweezers, when it comes to your ears, you should never put anything in them to clear away any excess wax or debris.
Boots says the majority of doctors will advise that you never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear as any sharp objects can perforate your eardrum and could cause serious and permanent damage to your hearing.
