Enhanced Ear Cleaning Solutions

Ear candles are still sold in Australia, but we don’t recommend them. They can obstruct your ear canal, and perforate your eardrum. There has been a lot of scientific studies evidently saying that the wax from ear candling is mostly candle wax and not the earwax itself. Ear candling is a holistic approach and not recognised as a safe technique or approach to removing excessive wax in the ears.

No, you should not try to stick anything that is smaller than your elbow in your ears. No to toothpicks, paperclips, pins, pencil tips, bobby pins. We’ve seen a few cases in our clinical days, and the post-outcomes are not nice.

Wax is a natural build-up in one’s ears and is designed to protect your ears from dirt, debris and foreign bodies or objects. A little amount of wax is healthy for your ears. When you try to remove the wax, you are removing a layer of protection. The more you remove, the more the ear would produce. Overtime, this is also traumatising the ear and can cause greater ear sensitivity.

Some people do get excessive wax in their ears, sometimes one ear more than the other. It is known that some people are more prone to wax, possible due to:

• narrow, hairy or curvy ear canals
• Wear hearing aids
• Use cotton buds or other objects in the ear
• Genetics: Have a hereditary disposition to wax build up
• Wear ear plugs or ear bud headphones regularly
• Work in dusty or dirty environments
• Suffer from stress

Excessive wax can be associated with symptoms such as:

• Hearing loss
• Tinnitus
• Feeling of fullness
• Itching
• Imbalance
• Pain
• Discharge
• Odour
• Cough

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you may have excessive or impacted wax. It would be advisable to consult your doctor, nurse, or audiologist, to have a look at your ears to exclude wax impaction, and assist with wax removal.

Irrigation, water squirting, ear syringing or ear flushing is the most common technique used for wax removal at the GPs, typically performed by squirting ungodly amounts of water into the ear, to dislodge wax. Today, ear syringing is a much more refined process, using just the right amount of water to remove wax, without risking damage to the ear. Modern ear syringing is safe, but as with most medical procedures, there are risks. These include the risk of ear infection (the most common risk), a perforated eardrum, vertigo, and temporary deafness.
Common side effects of ear syringing include temporary dizziness, discomfort or pain, and tinnitus. Based on the above, this technique is now slowly being de-serviced due to these risks, and also, as the safest treatment of ear wax removal via microsuction becomes more readily available.

The term earwax, or cerumen comes from its sticky, waxy texture. It consists of skin cells, sweat, dirt, and a natural body oil called sebum.
Earwax is produced by your ears to clean and protect themselves. It helps trap dust and particles that could harm deeper structures like your eardrum.
Earwax can be wet or dry and may vary in colour depending on factors such as environment, diet, and how long it's been in the ear. It naturally works its way out of the ear.
Insufficient earwax can cause itchy ears, while excessive buildup can lead to blockages, affecting hearing, causing tinnitus, dizziness, and earaches. This is more common in individuals who frequently use hearing aids, earbuds, or earplugs, as the ear deems it a foreign body, trying to protect its ear structures.