Rinsing wax and cleaning ears in the hospital. Ear plugs: how to remove them at home and with a doctor

Sulfur plug was, is and will be the main reason for visiting an otolaryngologist. Almost everyone has encountered this problem at least once in their life; and some are so unlucky that they have to systematically remove wax plugs. There are many reasons for wax plugs in the ear, and not all of them can be prevented. It is advisable to get rid of plugs only in a medical facility, since only a doctor can clean the ears 100% safely. If it is not possible to visit an otolaryngologist, then you can use home remedies to remove wax from the ear, but only with extreme caution so as not to harm this complex sensory organ.

The main function of wax in the ear canals is protection. Earwax prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, prevents the ear tissue from absorbing water when it penetrates inside, and prevents water from flowing into the deepest parts of the ear, from where it cannot flow out. In a normal state, earwax is formed continuously and is released from the ear during chewing, without accumulating in the ear canal in a large dose. If for any reason the natural removal of wax stops, it begins to accumulate in the ear canal and forms a plug.

Causes of wax plugs in the ears

In order for the formation of an ear plug to occur, factors provoking this phenomenon must be present. The development of wax plugs in the ear can be caused by:

A congenital feature of the internal structure of the ear.
Traumatic disorders in the structure of the ear.
Frequent diving. When a person is underwater, increased pressure is created inside the ear, which causes the earwax to thicken. If such thrombosis occurs regularly, then the body does not manage to properly get rid of dense sulfur, and therefore a plug develops.
Very frequent removal of earwax by mechanical means. In the event that a person often cleanses the ears of wax when there is no need for this, earwax begins to be produced in excessive quantities, due to which the body ceases to cope with its removal from the ear canals, and it forms an ear plug.
Frequent entry of chlorinated water into the ear canal. When exposed to chlorinated water, earwax begins to swell and form a plug.
Prolonged exposure to dust. If there is heavy dust for a long time, the viscosity of earwax increases, and it ceases to be fully released during chewing.
Significant excess of cholesterol in the blood. It has been noticed that the higher the content of this substance in the blood, the more often plugs form. It has not yet been possible to establish what the connection is between cholesterol and sulfur plugs, but such a pattern is observed.
Very dry air. When a person spends a long period of time in a room with too dry air, wax begins to be produced in excessively large quantities and does not have time to be released from the ear canal. As a result of this, a traffic jam is formed.
Age-related changes in the process of earwax secretion.

Very often, a person does not even realize that a wax plug has begun to form in his ear until it completely blocks the ear canal, causing hearing loss.

Symptoms of wax plug in the ear

The presence of wax plug can be determined by a number of symptoms, even if it has not yet led to complete blockage of the ear canal and hearing loss. Very often, the signs of a developing traffic jam are not paid attention to, attributing them to some external factors. Suspicions that wax has begun to accumulate in the ear can be confirmed by the following symptoms:

a feeling of stuffiness in the ear without pain;
constant ringing in the ears;
periodic dizziness;
the feeling of your own voice echoing in your ear;
hearing loss.

Complete deafness occurs only when wax completely blocks the ear and sound waves are no longer able to reach the eardrum.

What absolutely cannot be used to remove wax plugs at home

Some patients, trying to clear the ear plug on their own, cause severe injuries to themselves, due to which the damaged ear completely loses hearing. This happens for the reason that sometimes things are used for the procedure that are completely unsuitable for this purpose. The following items must not be used to remove an ear plug:

knitting needles;
crochet hooks;
hairpins;
nails;
needles;
toothpicks;
drills;
cotton swabs.

At first glance, many of these objects seem convenient for removing the cork, but they are fraught with great danger. Any awkward movement can lead to a sharp object breaking through the wax plug and piercing the eardrum, causing irreversible deafness. If you use a cotton swab to clean your ear, it will only compact the wax, which will make removing the plug much more difficult.

How to remove wax plug at home

At home, if necessary, it is quite possible to deal with sulfur plugs. However, self-treatment of this pathological condition should only be done if it is not possible to visit a doctor.

If a pharmacy is available, then you can use one of 2 types of drops that help dissolve the sulfur plug.

Drops "Remo-vax"– this drug dissolves the wax plug, but only if it has not yet completely closed the ear canal. Ideally, you should use this product for prevention in case of increased sulfur formation once every 10 days.
Drops "A-cerumen"– the drug can remove wax plugs even with complete blockage of the ear canal. It has a mild effect and can be used by children from 2.5 years old.

The rules for using these products are specified in detail in the instructions, and they should not be violated, as this will ultimately lead to undesirable consequences.

You can deal with wax plug without using special drops. In this case, actions using other means and methods should be performed with extreme caution, since a number of components for treatment can cause an acute allergic reaction, which will provoke the development of otitis media.

Ear rinsing. This action allows you to remove the plug mechanically by washing it out of the ear with water. The procedure can be carried out independently, but, unfortunately, at home it does not always give the desired result. In order to rinse, the patient should prepare warm boiled water to which a little manganese has been added. The color of the water should be pale pink. For the procedure, a syringe is used, from which the air must be squeezed out before rinsing, since if it is forcefully released into the ear, then unpleasant sensations will arise. After this, bending over the sink so that the sore ear is facing down, a manganese solution is injected into it using a syringe under fairly strong pressure. Rinse the ear for about 20 minutes. If the plug does not come out during this time, this means that it is impossible to remove it from the ear without prior preparation.
Will help dissolve the plug in the ear drops made from onion juice. To obtain the medicine, take 1 small onion and chop it to a paste. After this, the juice is squeezed out of it using gauze and mixed with warm boiled water in a 1:1 ratio. Having mixed the composition well, they are instilled into the sore ear 3 times a day for 3 days. For 1 dose, no more than 5 drops are injected into the ear canal. As the plug dissolves, it will come out of the ear on its own. If you want to speed up the process, you can rinse your ear according to the scheme from the 1st recommendation.
Olive oil can also be used in the fight against sulfur plugs. For treatment, a little oil is heated in a spoon to body temperature and instilled into the sore ear, 6 drops 4 times a day. This therapy is carried out for 3 days, after which, if the plug does not come out on its own (which happens quite often), the ear is washed out.
Soda with salt allows you to clear the ear of wax. To carry out the procedure, you need to dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 level teaspoon of soda in 200 ml of warm boiled water and use a syringe to rinse your ear with the mixture, leaning over the sink. Baking soda and salt quickly dissolve the plug and remove it from the ear. Usually, even with a very tight plug, 15–20 minutes of rinsing is enough.
Used to remove plugs from the ear and hydrogen peroxide. For therapy, you need to inject 5 drops of the drug into the sore ear and cover the ear with cotton wool. After 12 hours of exposure to peroxide, the ear should be rinsed with soda and salt. If the symptoms of the plug have not completely disappeared, then instill hydrogen peroxide and rinse again. If after 3 procedures it was not possible to completely remove the plug, then a visit to the doctor is necessary.

Preventing the formation of wax plugs

In order to reduce the risk of developing wax plugs in the ears, you should adhere to certain preventive measures. To prevent the disease you need:

stop using cotton swabs to clean your ears;
do not remove wax from the ears unless absolutely necessary;
dry your ears with a cotton swab after swimming;
promptly treat ear diseases;
fully treat ear injuries;
maintain a normal level of air humidity in the home;
control blood cholesterol levels.

Prevention significantly reduces the risk of developing wax plugs in the ear, but it cannot guarantee 100% that it will not happen. Taking this into account, even if all preventive measures are taken, if symptoms of wax plug appear, you should immediately visit a doctor.

Nobody likes visiting hospitals and performing procedures within its walls. There are many ways to remove wax plugs at home. Everyone will be able to choose a suitable method for themselves and get rid of the disease on their own.

Washing

The problem of how to remove an ear plug at home using a simple method cannot be solved without the use of water and a syringe. It is not recommended to rinse the auditory organ yourself, as it can damage the eardrum. It is better to turn to your household for help.

Safe washing rules:

Before rinsing the sulfur plug, take the largest syringe by volume and throw out the needle. The tool must be new. If you don’t have one at hand, then a rubber bulb will do. Before the procedure, it must be boiled.
10 minutes before washing, the ear is blocked with a cotton swab. Under such conditions, sulfur becomes softer.
During the procedure, the head is positioned so that water can flow freely into a placed basin or tray. The sore ear should be directed at a slight tilt upward and to the side.
The liquid is boiled in advance and cooled to a warm state. The syringe is filled with it.
The introduction of water into the ear canal occurs gradually without sudden movements. To eliminate the possibility of injury to the eardrum, the fluid flow is directed to the back wall of the organ.
If it was not possible to remove the wax plug at home with one syringe by rinsing, then the procedure is repeated up to three times. Old and hard sulfur is difficult to remove. Hydrogen peroxide previously dropped into the ear can soften it.

After the procedure, the auditory organ is dried to avoid inflammation. An ear stick is not used for this, so as not to cause infection. It is recommended to insert a cotton swab for a short time or dry the ear with a hairdryer operating at low power.

Attention! Be careful not to direct hot air directly into the ear canal.

A light, plasticine-shaped sulfur plug at home can easily be removed by hydrogen peroxide. Treatment is carried out in the following order:

take hydrogen peroxide 3%;
10 drops of the product are instilled into the ear of a patient lying on his side;
Do not move or stand up so that the hydrogen peroxide softens the plug and does not leak out.

Before removing the seal, place a clean napkin on the pillow, onto which the composition will drain. In the ear, hydrogen peroxide hisses and foams, which means that the liquid is beginning to clear the passage. When interacting with the product, the sulfur plug loosens and falls into pieces. They will come out of the ear along with the fluid in about 10 minutes.

At the end of the time, take a cotton swab soaked in warm water to clean the edges of the auditory organ from the remnants of the solution with sulfur. You must act carefully so as not to compact parts of the remaining substance. At the end, the ear is wiped dry with a paper napkin.

Regular rinsing with hydrogen peroxide helps improve hearing and permanently get rid of wax at home. The product disinfects the ear canal, heals wounds and removes germs.

Blowing

You can get rid of sulfur plugs yourself using a mechanical method - blowing. He is approached quite rarely, since not everyone is familiar with the intricacies of the procedure.

The principle of blowing is to penetrate the ear with a stream of air through the Eustachian tube. The Eustachian tube is a canal connecting the nasopharynx and the tympanic region. There are more than 10 blowing techniques: the Lowry technique, the Edmonds maneuver and others.

The simplest method is the Valsalva maneuver. To carry out blowing, take a deep breath, and then exhale through the nose while pinching the nostrils with your fingers. Do not exhale sharply, as this may damage the inner ear.

Air is forced into the nasopharynx, from where it is directed into the auditory canal. This entails an increase in the gap in the Eustachian tube. Before the procedure, the nasal mucosa is cleaned and disinfected with a saline solution. This will help prevent pathogenic flora from entering the ear.

Attention! If pain occurs during blowing, the procedure should be stopped immediately and consult a doctor.

Medications

To solve the problem of how to remove wax plug from the ear of a small child who cannot sit through long standard procedures, products from the pharmacy help. They can also help out in cases where the sulfur plug is quite dense and the symptoms do not disappear from exposure to water, hydrogen peroxide and other liquids.

Aqua Maris Oto

An effective nasal remedy that is used to rinse the auditory organ and soften plugs. It is absolutely safe as it is made from sea water. Suitable for children and pregnant women. Use is contraindicated if the eardrum is damaged and there is inflammation in the auditory organ.

The drug has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. The active ingredients are lidocaine and phenazole. Treatment is carried out as prescribed by the doctor, he will indicate the required dosage. Indicated for children from one year of age and pregnant and lactating women.

Otipax relieves pain in the ears and stops the production of prostaglandins.

Remo-Wax

Gently and carefully removes sulfur accumulations and prevents the recurrence of compactions. The composition contains penetrants that eliminate dead particles and soften sulfur. Remo-Vax contains moisture-retaining components that push the plug out and moisturize the ear canal. It is allowed to periodically use the product to prevent the occurrence of sulfur seals. Contraindications are the presence of ear pain and deformation of the eardrum.

Vaxol

The product consists entirely of olive oil. It not only removes wax plugs at home and protects against new formations, but also softens and moisturizes the ear canal. Treatment occurs as follows - the drug is instilled once a day for 5 days. One bottle is enough for 200 uses. It is not recommended for use by persons allergic to olive oil or with damaged eardrums.

A-cerumen

Allowed to be used by children from the first days of life. The surfactants included in the preparation dissolve sulfur accumulations and bring them to the surface. The drops do not cause irritation and can gently clean the ear canal. An excellent remedy for preventing the occurrence of sulfur seals.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine offers many ways to remove sulfur plugs. Most of them use simple ingredients that everyone has in their home.

Milk and hemp oil. 100 grams of milk is heated to a tolerable hot state and mixed with two drops of hemp oil. The composition is instilled into the ear using a pipette. The procedure is repeated 2 times a day.
Almond oil. The liquid is heated and instilled in an amount of 10 drops into the ear with a cerumen plug. Afterwards it is sealed with a cotton swab and left overnight. The procedure is repeated every evening until the plug is completely removed.
Camphor oil and garlic. One clove of garlic is crushed and mixed with three drops of oil. Take a small piece of bandage and lubricate it with the resulting composition. A tampon is rolled up from it and inserted into the ear. Remove the bandage when you feel a burning sensation.
Vegetable oil. A small amount of quality oil is heated. Two drops are placed in the ear canal and left overnight. In the morning, the ears must be washed.
Onions and cumin. A medium-sized onion is cut in half. From each half, take out a little pulp from the middle. Cumin is added instead. The halves are folded together, wrapped in foil and baked in the oven. After cooling, use only the juice. It should be instilled two drops twice a day.
Vodka and onions. Juice is obtained from fresh onions. Take 4 parts of it and mix it with 1 part of vodka. Apply two drops in the morning and evening for five days.
Soda and glycerin. Heat up 50 ml of plain water, a teaspoon of soda and 3 drops of glycerin. 5 drops of the mixture are instilled 4 times a day.
Vegetable oil and soda. First, 5 drops of oil at room temperature are instilled into the ear canal. After 5 minutes, wash the sulfur with a soda solution.
Ash leaves. Juicy and fresh ash leaves are used to prepare juice. The resulting liquid is dripped twice a day.

A good addition to any method of dealing with ear plugs would be the use of herbal decoctions for rinsing or douching. Particularly effective: chamomile, St. John's wort and calendula.

Candles

Special suppositories from the pharmacy help get rid of sulfur plugs. The product helps soften the seal and eliminate the inflammatory process. During the procedure, the inner ear is warmed up and immersed in a vacuum due to the burning of a candle.

To get rid of sulfur compaction, you must additionally prepare baby cream, cotton swabs and swabs, matches, a napkin and water. Next, the following actions are performed:

Before removing the plug, the outer ear is massaged with cream.
The person lies on his side, and the open ear is covered with a napkin with a cutout for the auricle.
The lower edge of the candle is inserted into the ear, and the upper edge is lit with a match.
A small part of the candle should burn down to the mark, after which it is removed from the ear canal and extinguished with water.
Remove the remains of the candle from the surface of the organ with a cotton swab.
To preserve heat, cover the ear with a tampon for 10 minutes.

The procedure should be carried out on both sides, regardless of whether the plug is in both ears or just one. Recommendations for safe use of candles:

the sore ear is the last to warm up;
It is better to carry out the procedure before going to bed or after finishing you need to lie down for at least 20 minutes;
You can go outside 10-12 hours after warming up;
Do not wash your hair on the day of the procedure.

Candles for removing wax plugs can be used daily until a positive effect is achieved. If after several procedures the cerumen plug is not removed, then it is better to visit a doctor. The most common brands: Reamed, Phytomedicine, Dias and Doctor Vera.

How to make a candle yourself?

If you don’t want to turn to pharmaceutical products, you can make a candle yourself:

The base for the wax is prepared. A cone 50 cm long and side diameters 20 and 5 mm is cut from a dry aspen log.
Beeswax is melted in a water bath.
Cotton fabric is cut into strips five centimeters wide.
One strip is dipped in beeswax and soaked generously with it.
The wooden cone is lubricated with vegetable oil.
The impregnated fabric is tightly wound onto the workpiece without gaps. If they do arise, they are covered with a brush, which is first dipped in wax.
After hardening, the candle is removed from the workpiece.

The result is a hollow wax tube, which can be used to carry out the above-described procedure for removing wax plugs.

Sometimes the seal is so dense and located in close proximity to the eardrum. In such cases, home methods are ineffective. The wax plug can only be removed by a specialist.

The formation of wax in the ears is a natural process for any organism. The substance is produced by the sulfur glands and protects the ear from the penetration of bacteria, fungi and potentially dangerous microorganisms. Normally, wax is removed from the ear on its own without causing any inconvenience to a person (formation of plaque, itching, burning). With excessive secretion production, as well as with blockage of the glands in the ear canal, the amount of sulfur exceeds the required volume. Lack of hygiene leads to compaction of the substance, transforming it into a dense layer - sulfur plug.

The following situations are considered common causes of wax plug formation:

Mechanical compaction of wax - with intensive hygiene with cotton swabs, a person does not clean the ear canal, but pushes the substance deeper. In this regard, sulfur constantly accumulates in the depths of the passage without the possibility of exit, which over time leads to complete blockage of the ear opening and the formation of an ear plug. Also, excessive use of cotton swabs disrupts the natural secretion of secretions, leaving the mucous membrane unprotected. This leads to the formation of fungus and infectious inflammation.
Increased secretion is an individual feature of the body when a substance is released in a larger volume than it should be. In this case, the excess accumulates in the ear canal over time, or is pushed deeper with cotton swabs. The result is the formation of sulfur plugs.
Increased ear care - there is no doubt that the ear needs to be looked after, but only within reasonable limits. Using cotton swabs several times a day leads to microtrauma of the mucous membrane of the ear canal, as well as complete deprivation of lubricant in the form of sulfur. The glands begin to produce the substance in an enhanced mode, so there is an excess of secretion. It is he who becomes part of the sulfur plug.
– some people have a unique structure of the auditory canal, which is characterized by tortuosity. In this regard, hygiene measures do not bring the desired effect - some of the wax remains deep in the ear. If the substance has increased viscosity, then the occurrence of sulfur plugs is a frequent and familiar phenomenon for humans.

The reason for the formation of sulfur plugs is both the person himself and his rash actions, as well as the peculiarity of the body. The last option is no less common than the first.

Important: increased secretion of ear secretions is considered a pathology and is a symptom of several diseases, for example, eczema or dermatitis.

Symptoms

Signs of the formation of sulfur plugs differ depending on the location and density of the formed substance. The process of formation of blockage of the ear canal occurs unnoticed by a person until the canal begins to block. The first symptoms appear at 70% closure of the ear opening.

The main symptom is hearing impairment - a person experiences either complete hearing loss, which depends on the intensity of the formation of the plug and its density. As a rule, the process occurs gradually, so sudden hearing loss does not occur. First, a feeling of stuffiness appears - after water procedures, when water gets into the ear canal and the plug gets wet. Also, the stunning effect is observed after sleep, when a person spends a long time in one position, and sulfur spreads evenly inside the canal.

The location of the wax plug can be approximately determined by sensations. If the clot of secretion is located closer to the external passage, then no additional symptoms other than hearing impairment are observed.

If the plug is as close as possible to the eardrum, then the symptoms are as follows:

nausea;
vomit;
headache;
lack of coordination;
causeless yawning;
mild cough without warning signs of illness.

Signs appear due to pressure on the eardrum, resulting in changes in intracranial pressure.

When is it necessary to rinse with a doctor?

You should consult a doctor in the first days of the onset of symptoms – if your hearing worsens. A person is not able to independently diagnose himself - is it a sulfur plug or an inflammatory process. That is why postponing a visit to an ENT specialist is contraindicated.

The doctor can visually determine the presence of a blockage. To do this, an otoscopy is performed - a visual examination of the ear canal using an instrumental method. If there is an accumulation of substance, the excess must be removed.

How to wash out a plug in a hospital

If we talk about how to wash out the ear plug in the hospital, the procedure is as follows:

the doctor determines the consistency of the cork - viscous or dry;
in case of a tight connection or complete blockage of the ear canal, before washing, special drops (oil-based) are prescribed, which are instilled by the patient independently at home for three days, 2-3 times;
the liquid used is saline solution (saline 0.09%) or sterile water brought to a temperature of 37 degrees;
the tool used is a Janet syringe, intended for rinsing cavities;
the patient is in a sitting position with his head thrown back in the opposite direction from the affected ear;
using a Janet syringe, liquid is poured into the ear canal;
wait 2-3 minutes;
the patient turns his head in the opposite direction so that the fluid and contents of the ear canal flow out.

If necessary, the procedure is repeated several times until the plug comes out on its own.

Does it hurt?

The logical question of whether it hurts to rinse the ear is of concern to everyone who has encountered a similar problem for the first time. There is no definite answer, since each person has an individual pain threshold and sensitivity. If we compare the sensations figuratively, the process can be described as a combination of intensive cleaning of the ear canal while water gets into it at the same time. There is a minimum of pain, but there is also little pleasant sensation.

Usually, even children do not cry during such procedures, so if you are wondering whether it is painful to wash out the ear from wax plugs, you should not be afraid of anything.

Is it possible to delete it yourself?

Not recommended for several reasons. First, a person without medical education cannot be completely sure that the cause of the symptoms is the cerumen plug. Secondly, there is a high risk of ear injury and infection.

If there is no other way, and you are sure that the cause of hearing loss is the formation of a plug, then you can try to remove it yourself. This will require some medical instruments and medications.

Removal methods at home

To carry out the procedure you will need the following:

oil-based ear drops;
pear-shaped balloon (will be used instead of a Janet syringe, since the bulb has a rubberized tip and will reduce the risk of injury to the ear canal);
cotton balls or napkins;
saline solution or hydrogen peroxide 3%.

First, you need to drop drops into your ear and lie in a side position for 4-5 minutes so that the plug softens. Then fill a pear-shaped balloon with a heated saline solution or hydrogen peroxide and carefully pour it into the ear canal. At the same time, it is necessary to pull the concha of the ear forward and upward so that the canal is aligned as much as possible. Wait 3-4 minutes and bend over the basin so that the liquid comes out of the ear. If there is no effect, repeat the procedure 1-2 more times. The plug should come out. If this does not happen, there is no need to repeat it again. You need to seek help from a doctor.

If the procedure is successful, you must carefully wipe the liquid from the auricle with a cotton swab.

Preventing the formation of wax plugs

The main preventive method for the formation of wax plugs is maintaining ear hygiene. It does not involve intensive care of the ear canal, but rather proper treatment.

A wax plug is an accumulation of earwax, consisting of the secretion of the sebaceous and sulfur glands, and keratinized epithelium. People of different ages often face this problem. Hearing loss and the appearance of extraneous sounds in the ears are the main symptoms of blockage of the ear canal with wax.

The ear is an organ in a person or animal, complex in its structure, which is designed to perceive sound vibrations. To understand the cause of the appearance of various pathological processes in the auditory organ, you need to know how it works.

External

It consists of the auricle (functions to receive sound waves that are transmitted to the internal part of the organ) and the ear canal (covered with skin, containing sulfur and sebaceous glands). The end of the external auditory canal is the eardrum. It separates the outer and middle ears, and looks like a thin membrane that is impermeable to liquid and air. The eardrum is necessary to transmit sound to the middle ear and protect the inner part from foreign objects.

Average

The tympanic cavity of the middle ear is a small space, the volume of which is about 1 cm³. This area contains the malleus, stapes and incus. All of them perform the function of transmitting sound waves to the inner ear. Upon closer examination, you can see that the hammer is a handle and a head connected, on the one hand, to the eardrum, on the other hand, to the incus; the incus is attached to the stapes, which in turn covers the oval window of the inner ear.

The middle ear cavity is closely connected to the nasopharynx via the Eustachian tube (serves to equalize the pressure on both sides of the eardrum).

Internal

Its structure is the most complex and intricate. Location: temporal bone. The inner ear is otherwise called the membranous labyrinth, which includes: semicircular canals (filled with fluid); snail; vestibule. Any vibration that occurs in the oval window is transferred to the liquid, with the help of which the receptors are irritated (located in the cochlea, creating nerve impulses).

The vestibular system is located in the human inner ear, which is necessary for a person to balance and accelerate in space.

Having examined the anatomy of the ear in more detail, it becomes clear how important accurate diagnosis and treatment of any diseases arising in this organ are.

Functions of earwax

Sulfur is produced by sulfur glands located in the skin of the external auditory canal.

The main functions of earwax are:

ensuring the ear canal is cleaned of foreign particles and moisturized;
protection from the influence of adverse factors.

Earwax has antimicrobial and antifungal effects due to its biochemical composition; its components are lipids, unsaturated fatty acids, cholesterol, enzymes, lysozyme and immunoglobulins. It is insoluble in water and is produced for natural lubrication, which is necessary to prevent the epithelium of the ear canal and eardrum from drying out.

Self-cleaning earwax

In a healthy person, wax is removed on its own when the temporomandibular joint is activated, for example when talking or chewing. Under the influence of certain factors, cleaning the ear canal from accumulated wax can be difficult, which leads to the formation of wax plugs.

Reasons for the formation of sulfur plugs

The following factors are identified for the accumulation of sulfur secretion and blockage of the ear canal:

Failure to comply with the rules of hygienic ear care. Most often, the outer ear is cleaned using cotton swabs or hard objects. This method leads to the following results: it disrupts the natural mechanism of spontaneous cleansing; irritates and injures the skin of the ear canal, and accordingly increases sulfur formation; promotes deeper pushing of the sulfur mass inside, thus compacting it there;
Violations of the anatomical structure of the auditory canal (too tortuous or narrow auditory canal);
Natural tendency to pronounced formation of sulfur secretion (most often inherited);
Unfavorable external factors: prolonged stay in very dusty places; frequent entry of water into the ear, high humidity; strong changes in atmospheric pressure; using headphones or hearing aids;
Excessive and active hair growth in the external passage;
Inflammatory diseases (during pathological processes, the viscosity and pH of sulfur changes);
Dermatitis, psoriasis (if the cartilaginous area of the ear canal is affected).

How it manifests itself

A person's hearing may deteriorate.

Signs of cerumen plug appear when the ear canal is completely filled with sulfur secretion. Most often, they appear after a shower, because when water gets into the ear, the wax mass swells, which leads to blockage of the passage.

Sulfur plug, symptoms:

significant decrease in sound perception in one ear;
extraneous noise, squeaking in the ear opening;
feeling of ear fullness;
feeling the echo of your own voice in your ear;
In rare cases, pain in the ear canal may occur.

If a cerumen plug has formed next to the eardrum and puts pressure on it, the following symptoms may appear:

cough;
lack of coordination;
nausea;
dizziness, headaches;
disturbance of cardiac activity (this manifestation is very rare and is associated with the functioning of the heart and nerve endings in the ear).

With prolonged accumulation of earwax, its protective function is impaired, which can lead to inflammation in the middle ear.

How to remove wax plug

The main methods for removing sulfur plugs are: cerumenolysis; aspiration; instrumental curettage; irrigation (washing out). Such procedures should only be performed by an otolaryngologist after an accurate diagnosis of the disease.

Cerumenolysis– this is the extraction of cerumen plug with cerumenolytics (special agents that can dissolve earwax). The composition of such drugs most often includes: sodium bicarbonate or urea peroxide.

A popular remedy is A-Cerumen. It is designed to cleanse the ear canal and can also be used to prevent the formation of wax plugs. When it enters the ear, the active substances dissolve the accumulated wax without causing it to swell.

Cerumenolysis is not always effective, so an additional procedure may be required to remove the ear plug.

Aspiration of wax plug It is used only after softening the sulfur with cerumenolytic agents. This procedure refers to “dry” removal methods. To carry it out, a special aspiration tube is used, which the doctor inserts into the external auditory canal. The disadvantage of this method is that the sound during the procedure is too loud, and there is also a risk of a disorder of the vestibular system.

Washing out wax plug using a professional Propulse device is considered one of the most effective methods.

How to carry out the procedure:

the patient is in a sitting position, a waterproof cape should be attached to his neck;
most often the patient is asked to hold a container near the earlobe for the water to drain during the procedure;
the doctor carefully inserts the nozzle into the ear canal and, pressing the foot pedal, supplies water;
When particles of sulfur plug appear, the water supply stops. The remains of the ear plug are removed using a special disposable spatula;
Water in the ear canal is removed using cotton wool.

Instrumental curettage applies if:

other removal methods did not bring the desired result;
the patient has persistent hearing loss or disturbances in the eardrum;
purulent otitis has been suffered or chronic otitis has developed.

With this method, local anesthesia can be used. The procedure is performed under optical control; To carry it out, special tools are used, which should only be used by a highly qualified specialist.

How to remove wax plug at home

How to get rid of wax plug at home? You can try to remove the ear plug if:

when pressing on the nodule of the auricle (located closer to the face), there is no pain;
wax plug in the ear is removed in an adult (if a child has ear congestion, a doctor’s consultation is required);
no ear pain or fever.

What to drip in (soften, soak, pierce, clean)

It is not so easy to remove sulfur plugs on your own; most often, using special means, it is only possible to soften the sulfur mass. To achieve a soft consistency of the ear plug, hydrogen peroxide (3%) is instilled into the ear no more than 5 times a day for 5 days.

You can also use A-Cerumen. For more convenient use of this medicine at home, it is recommended to purchase it in the form of a spray. How to remove wax plug with A-Cerumen:

To remove, you need to spray one in each ear, leaving for 1 minute;
then tilt your head to the side so that the dissolved sulfur mass flows out;
rinse the ear with saline solution;
course: morning and evening, 3-4 days.

This medicine is approved for use in children over 2.5 years of age.

by Notes of the Wild Mistress

Wax plug in ears- This is the accumulation of wax in the ear canal, which did not come out naturally. In large volumes, sulfur can completely block the ear canal.

Ear wax not only reduces the quality of life, but can also cause serious illness if no action is taken to get rid of it.

Wax plug in the ears: causes of formation

There are two main reasons for the formation of sulfur plugs.

Increased sulfur formation.

Anatomical features of the auditory canal.

Often people themselves contribute to the formation of wax plugs in the ear. Excessive concern for the cleanliness of the ear canal may have the opposite effect. The main task of sulfur is to protect the inner ear. Daily cleansing manipulations will be a signal to the body for increased formation of sulfur, as a protective component, which the ear canal is deprived of.

The use of cotton swabs as a means of cleaning the ear leads to the fact that the wax becomes compacted and moves deeper into the ear canal. Some time after such “cleansing” procedures, a dense sulfur plug forms. Physiologically, the ear is designed in such a way that excess wax is removed spontaneously when a person chews or speaks. Our task is to keep only the outer part of the ear (auricle) clean, and not to try to penetrate deeper into the ear canal.

Sources of additional irritation of the ear canal and, as a result, the formation of a plug can be various diseases (dermatitis, otitis, eczema), increased levels of dust and moisture in the air, and regular use of headphones and hearing aids.

What symptoms indicate the presence of wax plug?

Characteristic symptoms of sulfur plugs.

Feeling of persistent ear congestion for a long time (in the morning or after taking a bath).
Noises, the feeling that your own voice is echoing in your ears.
Cough, nausea, dizziness and even heart pain can be caused by an ear plug.
Inflammatory processes in the middle ear - they can also be caused by excess wax clogging the ear canal.

Often, excess sulfur content in the ear canal does not manifest itself in any way - hearing loss occurs gradually as long as there is a gap in the cerumen plug.

How to remove wax plug at home

The best way to deal with ear plugs is to prevent them from occurring. But if they are already formed, you need to competently approach the issue of getting rid of them. The best option for removing wax plugs is to seek help from an ENT doctor. But if you are firmly convinced that the cause of your discomfort is indeed a plug of sulfur, then you can try to get rid of it without resorting to outside help.

To get rid of wax at home, you need to follow a certain sequence in your actions.

Softening a dense lump of sulfur. To do this, you will need a pipette, a cotton swab and a softening agent (glycerin, 3% hydrogen peroxide, vegetable oil - your choice). 4-5 drops of softener, heated in your hands to a comfortable (room) temperature, are enough. The problematic ear should be on top when the head is tilted. To instill with your free hand, you need to pull the edge of the auricle slightly up and back. After the procedure (it is more advisable to do it at night), a cotton swab is immediately placed into the passage.

Then you need to first rinse the wax plug using a syringe and 20 ml of hydrogen peroxide (3%) - carried out the next morning. Rinse while lying on your side with the problematic ear facing up. Gradually fill the ear canal with peroxide until it begins to overflow over the edge of the ear. After this, stop washing and lie quietly on your side for 15-20 minutes.

To completely remove wax plugs, it is enough to jets of warm water under pressure . For these purposes, you can use a shower hose without a spray nozzle. Starting from a certain distance, the stream of water should be gradually brought closer to the ear until the edge of the hose touches it.

To completely remove wax plugs from the ears, several visits are sometimes required. Lack of relief even after several procedures is a serious reason to contact ENT specialists.

Folk remedies against sulfur plugs

You can try to remove wax plug using popularly proven means.

Warm almond (sesame, hemp, olive) oil- 5-7 drops at night.

Baked onions stuffed with dill seeds- 3-4 drops of juice at night. Close the ear canal with a cotton swab and Vaseline.

Onion recipe: cut off the top of the onion in the husk so that you get a depression, pour dill seeds into it and send the onion wrapped in foil to the oven to bake until brown juice appears.

Douching with soda (or salt) mixture- 50 ml of warm water plus a teaspoon of soda (table salt).

Are there any contraindications?

Do not use sharp objects (hairpins, toothpicks, etc.) to remove the cork. Diabetes mellitus, perforation of the eardrum, inflammatory processes in the ear, uncertainty in a self-made diagnosis - these are the reasons why you should also refuse independent manipulations in the ear canal area.