General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
Earwax normally protects the ear canal. A blocked sensation, reduced hearing or ringing can suggest an earwax plug, but these symptoms have other possible causes. Consult your doctor if you are unsure.
Do not try to remove wax by putting a cotton bud or another object into the canal. Sharp objects and improvised water jets can injure the canal or eardrum; cotton buds can also push wax deeper inside.
Ear candles do not effectively remove a wax plug and can cause burns or worsen wax accumulation. ENT specialists advise against this method.
If the eardrum is perforated, including after an injury, repeated ear infections or insertion of a ventilation tube, do not put any liquid in the ear. Mention this history before asking about an ear product.
If hearing symptoms persist, have the ear examined to identify the cause. In a young child, a small object can explain the discomfort: ear symptoms require a medical consultation.
For sudden or rapidly progressing hearing loss, seek emergency care at a hospital. Reduced hearing with pain, fever above 38.5 °C or pus or blood discharge requires medical advice the same day. Also seek advice promptly for severe pain, clear discharge, fever or persistent itching; do not assume these signs are caused by wax without an examination.
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