Earwax lubricates, cleans, and protects the lining of the ear canal. It does this by repelling water, trapping dirt, and ensuring that insects, fungi, and bacteria do not get through the ear canal and harm the eardrum.

Earwax is slightly acidic, and it has antibacterial properties. Without earwax, the ear canal would become dry, waterlogged, and prone to infection.

If too much earwax builds up and becomes hard,it will get impacted in the ear canal . It can form a plug that blocks the ear. A blocked ear may be painful and can affect hearing.

An earwax blockage may cause the following symptoms:

• earache
• ear infection
• itchiness
• tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ear
• a feeling of fullness in the ear

Ear has a very good self cleaning mechanism.Hearing aids,earphones,earplugs prevent wax from falling out of the ear naturally, which leads to its accumulation inside the ear. The use of items to remove earwax or relieve itching can make the buildup worse.

Such items include:

• cotton swabs, or Q-tips
• bobby pins
• keys
• napkin corners

These items can push the wax deeper into the ear canal. They can also harm the sensitive tissues of the ear, possibly leading to permanent damage.

People should carry out any cleaning or removal of earwax under the supervision of a healthcare professional.

Some people are more likely than others to have earwax problems. People who tend to collect more earwax in their ears include:

• individuals whose ear canals are narrow or not fully formed
• people with very hairy ear canals
• people with osteomata, or benign bony growths, in the outer part of the ear canal
• those with certain skin conditions, such as eczema
• older people, because earwax tends to become drier and harder with age, which increases the risk of impaction

Ear wax is softened by using softening agents and then under the microscopic vision it is sucked out with a low pressure suction machine.