If you experience pain and a buildup of wax in your wet and/or infected ear, the best and safest course of action to treat it is to ask your doctor to remove the earwax with special tools and techniques. If you can't see a doctor, there are things you can do to remove earwax yourself. However, be careful because the ears can be damaged easily.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Visiting the Doctor for Ear Cleaning
Step 1. Visit a doctor to check your ears
Have the doctor examine the ear and remove all the wax in it if possible, instead of doing it alone.
- The doctor is an expert and is able to diagnose the problem accurately.
- Seeing the inside of the ear for yourself is difficult to do.
- The inside of the ear can be injured easily if you use techniques and tools that are not meant to be used to clean the ear. Cotton buds, napkins, safety pins, etc. should not be put in the ear.
Step 2. Seek medical care
If the doctor's examination detects a buildup of earwax or infected material, he or she can remove it in one or more ways. These methods include:
- Dropping special drops into the ear canal to soften the wax
- Using a suction device to pull wax out of the ear
- Flushing the ear with warm water or saline solution using a rubber syringe
- An instrument called a curette or cerumen loop or spoon can also be used to remove earwax manually.
- These treatments can be done in the doctor's office.
Step 3. Follow the post-treatment recommended by the doctor
After cleaning the ear, the doctor will give specific recommendations for post-treatment maintenance and discuss any additional procedures required.
- The doctor will prescribe antibiotics if the patient has an infection in the ear canal, such as otitis external or otitis media. The antibiotic can be taken by mouth or dripped into the ear canal.
- In addition, the doctor will prescribe an antihistamine or decongestant to reduce swelling and allow the ear to dry.
- Use all medications as instructed.
- Drink plenty of fluids (at least eight glasses per day) to stay hydrated, especially if you have a fever or infection.
- Keep the ear dry during the healing process.
- Applying a warm damp (not wet) towel to the outside of the ear can relieve pain. Do this step for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
Part 2 of 3: Cleaning Ears at Home
Step 1. Do not use unsuitable tools to clean the ears
If you have wet or infected discharge in your ear, do not insert objects such as cotton swabs, napkins, safety pins, or even your fingers into your ear to clean it. Doing so can cause a number of problems.
- Inserting an object into the ear can push the wax deeper, rather than expelling it. Stool pushed too deep can make the infection worse and reduce the ability to hear.
- The eardrum, which is thin and soft, can be punctured. This can cause the eardrum to leak.
- A foreign object inserted into the ear can irritate or injure the skin.
- Cleaning the ears with ear candles is a dangerous and seemingly ineffective act. You can injure yourself with hot wax or candle flames, and even puncture your inner ear.
Step 2. Choose a recognized home remedy
In general, earwax will fall off on its own over time. If you feel any unusual buildup or risk of infection, however, home remedies can be taken to relieve it. If you don't have time to see a doctor to treat your ear, you can:
- Use over-the-counter drops to soften earwax. Look for drops that contain carbamide peroxide.
- Dripping mineral oil, baby oil, glycerol, and hydrogen peroxide into the ear.
- Use an over-the-counter earwax removal kit. The kit contains a rubber syringe to fill with warm water to flush the wax out of the ear.
- The equipment you need for this treatment is available at various pharmacies. Earwax removal kits consisting of a rubber syringe ball and instructions for use can be purchased at pharmacies.
Step 3. Follow all care instructions carefully
If using drops or other liquids to soften and remove wax from inside the ear, carefully follow the specific instructions provided with the product (or those given by your doctor). This treatment may take several days to function properly.
- If using a liquid such as mineral oil, baby oil, glycerol, or hydrogen peroxide, put a few drops of the liquid into the ear using an eye dropper.
- After a day or two, the earwax should have softened. Use a rubber syringe ball to gently squirt a small amount of warm water into the ear. Lean your head back and gently pull the outside of your ear. This will open the ear canal. Once the water gets into it, tilt your ear to the other side to get the water out.
- After that, dry the outside of the ear using a towel or a hairdryer.
- In order to work, the process must be repeated several times. Call your doctor if this doesn't seem to work after several tries.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Ear Problems
Step 1. Keep your ears dry
Wet feces can become infected because it contains a lot of dead skin cells that can enlarge and provide an ideal environment for bacterial growth. To reduce the chance of infection, try to keep your ears dry if possible.
- You can use a swimming cap when swimming.
- Use a towel to dry the outside of the ear when it comes in contact with water.
- If water gets inside your ear, try tilting your head and holding that position until the water comes out. Gently pulling on the nostrils can also open the ear canal and make it easier for water to escape.
- In addition, a hairdryer on a low setting can also be used to dry the ears; keep a few cm away from your ear.
Step 2. Clean the ears properly
When the ear feels dirty, gently wipe the outside with a warm cloth. Do not use cotton buds or other equipment to clean the inside of the ear; In general, the wax will come out little by little from inside the ear by itself.
Step 3. Discuss any concerns with your doctor
If you repeatedly experience earwax buildup problems, use ear drops once a month to prevent this. However, do not use more than this amount of ear drops because they can irritate your skin. Also, tell your doctor if you have chronic ear problems.
- You are at a higher risk of developing ear problems if you wear a hearing aid. Check your ears to the doctor three to four times a year to find out and treat any problems that occur.
- Tell your doctor if you notice any unusual ear-related symptoms (eg, non-wax discharge from the ear, severe pain, or significant difficulty hearing), or if you are unsure about the condition.
