Ear Wax.... It's Not As Bad As You Think.
Kathy Peck
Wax is formed in in the outer part of the canal not in the deep part
of the ear canal near the eardrum. When wax blocks up against the eardrum,
it is often because of probing the ear with such things as cotton-tips,
bobby pins, twisted napkin corners or, other foreign objects. They only
ram the wax in deeper. The skin of the ear canal and the eardrum is very
thin and fragile and can be is easily injured.
Earwax is healthy in normal amounts. It serves to coat the skin of the
ear canal where it acts as a temporary water repellent. The absence of
earwax can cause dry, itchy ears.
Most of the time the ear canals are self cleaning. Old earwax is constantly
being transported from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually
dries, flakes, and falls out.
When wax has accumulated so much that it blocks the ear canal (and hearing),
your physician may have to wash it out, vacuum it, or remove it with special
instruments. Or he may prescribe ear drops or reccommend non precripttion
ear drops which are designed to soften the wax.
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