You probably know that Q-tips shouldn’t be used to clean your ears. Maura Corsetti, director of the Mount Sinai Ear Institute, says earwax is a good thing and a sign of a healthy ear. What if your earwax color changes? Feeling your ear is clogged?
The fact that earwax is necessary (and healthy)doesn’t mean that certain changes or problems with it can’t be a sign that something is wrong. Find out when your earwax means trouble.
Your Ear Wax Is Mostly Fine
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Earwax gets a bad rap from Q-tip cleanings and ear candling. However, Jason A. Brant, an assistant professor of otorhinolaryngology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said your earwax is probably fine. Most people do not experience any problems with earwax anyway, Brant said.
According to Cosetti, earwax helps keep ears healthy. So earwax isn’t a sign of dirty ears. The ear canals depend on it to function properly. There are many benefits to ear wax. It’s lubricating, antimicrobial, and even microfungal, she said.
Even Subtle Earwax Changes Are
Fine.
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You may notice changes in your earwax over time. It is normal for earwax to appear differently from person to person. Brant said the color of normal earwax ranges from light tan to dark brown to almost black, and its consistency can also vary. “It can be flaky, firm, soft, or mushy.” Subtle changes in the color or consistency of the wax usually do not indicate [a]serious problem,” Brant said.
See A Doctor For Ear Pain And Liquid
Discharge
Brant noted that a yellow or green liquid or pus in your earwax might indicate an ear infection. Furthermore, he said any blood or earwax in the ear canal would need investigation. Brant also urges you to see your doctor if you experience ear pain or discomfort, regardless of whether earwax changes cause ear pain.