Earwax Buildup and What You Need to Know

Earwax, also called cerumen, is a natural and protective part of ear health. Most of the time our ears clean themselves without any help, but sometimes earwax can build up in the canal and cause ear fullness, muffled hearing, itching, ringing in the ears, or dizziness. This guide covers what causes earwax buildup, the most common signs and symptoms, how to safely manage it at home, and when to see a healthcare provider.

What Is Earwax and Why Does Your Body Make It?

Earwax is a natural, protective substance produced by glands in the ear canal that lubricates the canal, traps dust and debris, and helps prevent infection. It is usually yellow, orange, or brownish, and it is made of a combination of keratin (from shed skin cells) and lipids and peptides produced by ear glands.

Earwax is oily so that it can lubricate the ear canal and prevent it from drying out. Without earwax, says the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, our ears would be dry and itchy. Earwax also helps clean the ears and protect them from dirt, dust, and other small particles, and antimicrobial proteins in earwax help protect against germs and infection.

Usually, our ears and earwax are self-cleaning. Earwax captures small particles and prevents them from getting too far into the ear canal. Thanks to jaw motions (like chewing and talking) and cell turnover, old wax moves from inside the canal to the ear opening, where it is either washed away during bathing or flakes off on its own.

Sometimes, however, earwax can build up and cause itchiness or a slightly "full" feeling. If buildup is more severe, hearing changes or pain can occur, especially if earwax collects in the narrow portion of the ear canal and starts to block it.

What Causes Earwax Buildup?

Earwax buildup occurs when earwax is produced or pushed deeper into the ear canal faster than the ears can naturally clear it, typically due to age, genetics, ear-shape factors, or repeated use of cotton swabs, earbuds, or hearing aids.

Clinical guideline The Cleveland Clinic and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Clinical Practice Guideline report that earwax buildup is more likely to occur in people who:^[1]

• Are over the age of 55 (earwax becomes drier with age)
• Frequently use hearing aids, earbuds, or earplugs
• Have more ear hair
• Have skin conditions like eczema
• Have narrow or unusually shaped ear canals
• Have developmental disabilities or are a young child
• Use cotton swabs or put other items in their ears

Experts report that cotton swabs and similar items inserted in the ear can stimulate more earwax production, potentially leading to more uncomfortable buildup. Items in the ear can also push earwax further in, causing more severe buildup or blockage and potentially irritating delicate ear structures.

Signs and Symptoms of Earwax Buildup

The most common signs of earwax buildup are ear fullness, muffled hearing, itching, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), and occasional dizziness. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms can range from ear itch to noticeable hearing changes.

Signs of Earwax Buildup

• Pain or earache
• Feelings of ear "fullness" or that ears are "plugged" or "stuffy"
• Muffled or changed hearing
• Change in hearing aid effectiveness
• Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
• Ear itchiness
• Ear odor or discharge
• Dizziness

If you experience earwax buildup symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider about whether earwax cleansing may be necessary.

There are gentle, non-invasive at-home treatments available to loosen, dissolve, and cleanse earwax buildup. More serious cases may need a different treatment.

Can Earwax Buildup Cause Other Problems?

Yes. Earwax buildup can cause headaches, dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears, and, in some cases, ear infections, particularly when buildup is severe or when improper removal attempts injure the ear canal.

While earwax is a normal, healthy, and beneficial substance, excessive buildup can cause ear itching, dizziness, headaches, earaches, muffled hearing, or ringing in the ears. If earwax continues to build up, these symptoms can worsen and earwax impaction (where wax clogs or blocks the ear canal) can occur.

Peer-reviewed Built-up earwax can also be more likely to harbor fungus or bacteria, potentially increasing the risk of an ear infection. A study in the American Journal of Otolaryngology found that samples of earwax from patients with frequent severe earwax buildup showed evidence of fungal growth. When bacteria were present, the same study showed it was most likely to be Staphylococcus aureus, a common infection-causing bacteria.^[2]

Peer-reviewed Improper earwax buildup removal can also lead to problems. Done incorrectly, removal can push wax deeper into the ear canal or injure the ear canal or eardrum, increasing the risk of infection. Research in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology has linked 70% of pediatric cases of otitis externa (a type of ear infection) to the use of cotton swabs.^[3] Also of concern, if the ear canal becomes blocked, other ear conditions may be hard to diagnose.

How to Safely Manage Earwax Buildup at Home

The safest way to manage earwax buildup at home is to use a gentle, non-invasive cerumenolytic (wax softening) ear drop product as directed, never insert cotton swabs or other objects into the ear canal, and see a healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen.

Guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recommend the following options for self-care.^[1]

Home Earwax Buildup Remedy Options

Observation. Because human ears and earwax are naturally self-cleaning, an earwax buildup remedy is not always necessary, and the buildup can sometimes go away by itself. Depending on your symptoms, you may choose to wait to see if your buildup resolves with time. If this approach is chosen, be sure to contact your healthcare provider if your symptoms continue or get worse.

Wax softening agents or cerumenolytics. These are ear drops for earwax buildup and earwax cleansing kits, such as the LIPO Earwax Cleansing Kit, that can be purchased over-the-counter. These products have active ingredients that soften and break up earwax so that it can work its way out of the ear either on its own or with gentle warm-water external washing.

The LIPO Earwax Cleanser is one over-the-counter earwax buildup treatment formulated with gluconolactone, a trusted skincare active ingredient that emulsifies stubborn earwax into a soap-like substance so it can wash out. It is designed to dissolve current blockages in as little as 3 minutes while also helping prevent future buildup.

Because the internal ear contains delicate structures, never attempt physical earwax removal on your own by using items like cotton swabs in your ear canal. Objects in the ear can result in earwax being pushed farther into the ear and can cause irritation, infection, or injury.

How to Prevent Earwax Buildup

Earwax buildup can often be prevented with simple external ear care and by avoiding objects in the ear canal.

The Mayo Clinic recommends washing your hair as you normally would and drying your ear canal opening with a towel. You can also wipe the outside of your ears with a warm, damp washcloth.

If you find that you tend to experience symptoms of earwax buildup, talk to your healthcare provider, especially if you are experiencing ear fullness, ear "stuffiness," earaches, headaches, or dizziness. He or she may want to look in your ears and discuss periodic cleansing with a home-use solution. LIPO Earwax Cleanser is one option that supports both buildup removal and ongoing prevention.

And remember, do not use cotton swabs in your ears. They can irritate the ear and cause it to produce additional earwax. If you must use cotton swabs, use them only on the outer structure of your ears.

When to See a Doctor About Earwax Buildup

Talk to your doctor if your earwax buildup and earwax buildup symptoms do not go away on their own or with home cleansing. You should also talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms get worse.

The American College of Emergency Physicians says you should contact a healthcare provider immediately if you have:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Imbalance
• Difficulty concentrating
• New tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Reduced hearing
• Fever
• Severe earache
• Discharge from the ears
• A reddened or swollen outer ear

Key Takeaways About Earwax Buildup

Although earwax is a natural, healthy part of our bodies' defense system, too much earwax can cause uncomfortable symptoms like pain, ear fullness, muffled hearing, ringing in the ears, ear itchiness, odor or discharge, and dizziness.

Sometimes, symptoms can be severe and require a healthcare provider's diagnosis and treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have significant pain, dizziness, or hearing loss, or if you have a fever, odor, or discharge from your ear. For persistent ringing, see our post on the earwax and ear ringing connection or our what is tinnitus hub.

If symptoms are mild, you can try a gentle, at-home cleansing method to relieve your buildup. Do not attempt to clean your earwax with cotton swabs or other items placed in the ears, as these can cause injury, increase infection risk, and stimulate more earwax production. If symptoms continue or worsen after non-invasive cleansing, talk to your healthcare provider.

Frequently Asked Questions About Earwax Buildup