Tips to clean the ear wax

Many felt that the ear wax yellow or brown is the result of bacterial activity. That is a misconception. Earwax in scientific language is called cerumen, is actually produced by the ear itself, precisely in the skin glands in the outer ear canal.

Which is sticky cerumen has a function as defense mechanisms, namely protecting the sensitive skin inside the ear hole of the entry of dirt, dead skin, and other objects that could cause problems. Cerumen also acidic so it also serves as a powerful anti-bacterial. Slippery layer of cerumen that prevents dry spots and reduce the itching.

Inside the ear canal itself, the mechanism of the body is able to clean their own dirty ear hole if functioning properly. Ear wax will come out of the ear canal by itself, the process is assisted every time the jaw moves to talk or chew. At the earwax out on the ear is visible, that is where the safe to clean the earwax. Basically, the presence of cerumen provides many benefits for the body, and attempts to clear cerumen from the ear hole will cause many problems and damage to hearing.

Cerumen produced in the outer third of the ear hole, and is normally not possible to move into the area of ​​the eardrum is very sensitive, but pressure from the outside. Cleaning the ear canal with a cotton swab (cotton bud) it will push cerumen into a very sensitive area. The danger posed is the infection and the possibility of hearing loss. If cerumen accumulates in the eardrum, cerumen can cause tinnitus (inflammation of the eardrum). Cleaning cerumen also cause the skin on the ear hole prone to infection and will increase the growth of bacteria due to the loss of the acidic nature of the ear hole.

The biggest danger of cleaning cerumen from the ear hole is a rupture of the eardrum, then the emergence of a deadly bacterial infection of the eardrum to rupture. Where in 2008, a man from Montreal, Canada died of an infection stemming from a ruptured eardrum as a result of cleaning the ear with a cotton bud. As described above, cerumen is produced in areas close to the eardrum. But because many people do not know, they tried to clean the ears as far as possible close to the eardrum.

A good way to clean the ears is to use a towel soaked in warm water, do not be too hot or cold water. Clean the outside of the ear canal, the ear discharge and do not include objects that shaped stick (stick) like Q-tips, fingers, pencils, etc.. If you think you are disorders such as infection in your ear, immediately consult with your doctor.