The texture and colour of the stuff inside our ears can reveal some very interesting things about our health and how the rest of the bodies work. Other than being surprisingly interesting, earwax actually serves an important purpose for our health.
According to Clear Ear, its scientific name is "cerumen." Earwax is compose of long-chain fatty acids, squalene and alcohols that provide a waterproof lining preventing infection, among other things.
The function of earwax is to protect the hollow hole that is our ear canals from bacteria and debris. Earwax is our body's way of keeping the bad stuff out of our ears and trapping dead skin cells. With the help of wax, our ears stay clean, healthy and functional.
The doctors at the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery do not suggest the use of cotton buds or any other foreign objects as ear-cleaning tools.
Before anyone reaches for a cotton swab, it's important to know how to safely clean your ears. A cotton swab should never be inserted into the ear canal. In fact, your ears have their own way of self-cleaning by pushing out wax on their own.
Sometimes this can cause earwax to build up on the external part of the ear, which can be gently cleaned using a cotton swab or wet cloth.
1. Soft and Pale Yellow Earwax
Wax that is soft and yellow in texture usually belongs to children. It is ordinary and healthy for children to produce a lot more earwax than adults. As children grow older, they will produce less.
2. Wet, Sticky, and Yellow Earwax
Wet and sticky yellow earwax is one of two common varieties of cerumen found in many individuals particularly in adults. The wet and sticky texture is especially good at lubricating the ear canal, which prevents them from being dry and itchy.
3. Dark and Sticky Earwax
The dark color earwax with sticky texture indicates that sweat glands in your body produces more sweat than normal people. The extra production of sweat can cause unpleasant odor. Therefore, the people will over-production of sweat should keep their body and ears clean more.
4. White, Dry and Flaky Earwax
The white, dry and flaky earwax is the other most common type of wax found inside your ears. This variety of cerumen is associated to a recessive gene.
In turn, this color of earwax is usually seen in people who produce less body odor.
5. Thick and Dark Earwax
Wax inside the ear is produced by apocrine glands. When you are stressed or afraid, these glands react by producing more wax than normal. It's a similar reaction to sweating under pressure.
When earwax produces at a faster rate than your body can naturally push it out of the ear canal, a wax build-up can occur. Too much earwax can cause a blockage, leading to temporary hearing loss.
6. Dark Brown Or Black Earwax
While black or very dark brown wax is scary looking, it is probably no cause for alarm. Dark earwax could be a sign of the overproduction of wax from stress as mentioned above.
It is also a sign that it has been in your ear for a while. The fats in your earwax react to oxygen, causing the substance to darken. The longer the wax is in your ear canal, the more oxygen it's exposed to, leading to a darker hue.
7. Bloody Wax
It is normal for older and darker earwax to have a similar appearance to blood. Nevertheless, it could also be a sign of a ruptured or perforated ear drum. To be safe, it's best to see a doctor immediately.
8. Wet and Runny earwax
It is normal for ear wax to leak from the ear canal from time to time in small degrees, as this is your ear's natural cleaning mechanism. Nonetheless, large volumes of drainage with blood and pus in them is a sure sign of a ruptured or perforated ear drum.
See a doctor immediately.
9. Gray colored earwax
Gray colored wax indicates dust built-up in your ear because it is usually not found. However, if you see gray colored and sticky, there is no need to worry. It will come back to normal on its own.
However, if you are experiencing dryness and itchiness in your ear along with gray colored wax, it is an indication of seborrheic eczema. Seek medical help immediately.
Source: littlethings
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