Earwax production is a normal and necessary part of the hearing process. It's not necessary to look at it, but it's vital to the health of your ear because it helps lubricate and trap dirt and dead cells from entering the inner ear.
However, just like everything else, too much earwax can present certain health concerns, including pain in the ear and reduced hearing capacity. In most cases, it takes some time for ear wax to build up without cleaning, which causes problems with hearing ability. But in other cases, you may notice that your ears are suddenly producing a lot of ear wax, which not only causes discomfort but could be alarming.
This guide examines the different causes of a sudden spike in ear wax production, what it means for your ears, and what you should do about it.
How to Know If You Have Too Much Earwax
Before you know what is causing the sudden spike in earwax production, you need to find out how much earwax is too much to remove it in a timely manner.
- Ringing in the ear: If you have a buildup of ear wax, you may experience a ringing sound in your ears, commonly called tinnitus.
- Ear pain: It is also common to experience pain inside the ear or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear. This is usually accompanied by severe discomfort.
- Difficulty hearing: If you have too much wax in your ear, you may have difficulty with The wax could block your ear canal and muffle your hearing.
- Dizziness: Excess ear wax could also throw your balance off and cause dizziness.
- Itching or discharge: You may also notice an unpleasant discharge or itching when you have too much earwax. In some instances, a disturbing odour might also come from your ear.
These are the most common signs that you have too much earwax. Depending on how quickly the wax builds up, there are signs, and the length of time they take might be different.
Reasons Why You Suddenly Have Too Much Earwax
If you notice you are suddenly producing too much ear wax, getting to the bottom of the cause can help you know how to correct the issue and avoid further build-up. Here are some of the reasons why you may be producing so much earwax all of a sudden.
Ear Infection
One of the most common reasons for increased earwax production is an infection. Sometimes, the ear produces extra earwax as a defence mechanism, and in other cases, it might not be earwax at all.
An ear infection can cause the same sensation as ear wax. You may feel as if something is stuck inside the ear, and you have difficulty hearing. You can tell the difference because earwax is almost always painless. An ear infection, on the other hand, will be painful and have a foul-smelling drainage. The infection could be caused by a virus or bacteria.
Irritation from Ear Buds or Hearing Aids
This is a common reason many people suddenly start producing too much ear wax without notice and when their ear is still healthy.
If you love to use your earbuds when running, talk on the phone for long periods, or wear hearing aids, this could contribute to your problem with excessive earwax production.
Wearing earbuds can cause a breakdown of skin cells in the ear, which can lead to a buildup of ear wax. Also, these gadgets keep the wax from leaving the ear, which can lead to a buildup of the wax inside the ear.
Hearing aids can also present the same problem, especially when the mould is not fitted well. The best fix for this is to opt for over-the-ear headphones instead of earplugs. If you have to keep using the earplugs, keep their use to about two hours a day. You should also consider wiping the earbuds with peroxide before and after each use.
Q-Tips, Cotton Balls and Earwax Candles
Most people prefer Q-tips for ear cleaning. Unfortunately, they are also another cause of excessive earwax production. They can irritate the ear canal, which stimulates the glands in the ears to produce even more earwax.
Q-tips can also leave cotton fibres in your ears or push earwax deeper into the ear, making it harder to hear and creating an illusion of too much wax.
If you have to keep using Q-tips as part of your cleaning routine, you should place a few drops of mineral or baby oil in your ear before bed instead. If you suspect you have too much or it is impacted, you can consider safer and more effective methods like micro suction ear wax removal.
Cold Weather
This could be an unexpected reason for your sudden rise in earwax production. But if the weather has recently changed and, with it, you've noticed an increase in earwax production, your suspicion could be correct.
During cold weather, humidity drops and the loss of humidity can cause the skin all over the body to dry, including the skin inside your ear canal. The dry skin cells inside the ear canal can flake off and build up in your ear canal. This can prompt the glands to make more wax to try and get rid of those extra skin cells to keep them from accumulating inside the ear. One of the fixes for this is to moisturise regularly during winter months to keep the skin from drying out. You can also keep a humidifier in your room overnight or leave several bowls of water out around the house. The extra moisture will keep your skin from flaking.
Skin Conditions
Some skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, can trigger the glands to make more earwax. These diseases affect the skin inside your ear canal, making it more sensitive and likely to flake off. The buildup of dead skin cells triggers the glands to make more earwax to help push out the buildup.
If you have any of these skin conditions, you may notice that your sudden ear wax build-up aligns with when you're having a flare-up. When the condition is under control, the production goes back to normal. The best way to manage this condition is to keep up with your treatment plan and avoid triggers. It can help keep your skin health and earwax production within normal range.
Pollen Counts and Dust Levels
If you have a dust or pollen allergy, you may also notice higher earwax production during allergy season.
Earwax is extremely effective in trapping small particles like pollen before they can get to the ear drum. And with a high pollen count, you can expect your glands to kick into overdrive as well as they try to prevent the pollen from making it into the interior of the ear.
You can take allergy medication to keep your systems from going haywire and keep the symptoms under control. However, the medication will not stop the glands from making extra earwax. For this, you can try limiting time outdoors and washing your ears and hands to remove the extra pollen.
Ageing
An increase in ear wax production could also be caused by ageing. As you get older, your body will produce less wax. The consistency will also become thicker and drier, which can lead to blockages and more feelings of fullness. Unfortunately, there's little you can do in this case aside from more regular ear clean-ups and removal of the ear wax.
When Should You See a Healthcare Professional For Earwax?
Although sudden and excess ear wax production aren't the things that would send you to the hospital, they can be a concern for many people, especially if you have previous ear problems. Knowing when you should see a healthcare professional can keep things from escalating and help you maintain your ear health.
You should see a healthcare professional if you experience any symptoms of earwax impaction, such as pain or muffled hearing. In this case, you shouldn't try to remove the stuck earwax on your own. Instead, visit our clinic for micro-suction ear wax removal, which is a quick, effective, and painless process.
You should also consider visiting your healthcare provider if the sudden increase in earwax is not subsiding and you are producing lots of it. If you have tried monitoring the above-mentioned causes with no change, there could be other causes that must be investigated to avoid complications.
Another reason to see your healthcare provider is if the wax is a different colour or has a foul smell. This could point to an infection that requires immediate intervention.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why you could suddenly be producing more earwax than usual. Some of these reasons are not alarming, but some are and should be investigated. Knowing when you should see an audiologist in London is vital, but if you're not sure, it's always better to err on the side of safety and see one just to be sure.