Did you know that there are approximately 2000 glands in the outer ear of a person that secrete 20 mg of earwax per month? Yes, this substance does not look very good, but it plays an important role in ensuring health.
Sulfur, with its sticky consistency, acts as a reliable obstacle to not only dirt and dust, but also fungi, bacteria, and other dangerous irritants. A person's ear is an open cavity, which is literally attacked by various negative external influences.
Type and composition of earwax
Earwax contains enzymes such as lysozymes that destroy foreign bacteria, as well as detain and even dissolve various microbes. In fact, the effect of earwax can be compared to the functionality of flypaper.
As for the color of earwax, it depends on the person's genetics. The white and black races, as a rule, have a moist and soft sulfurous mass of a slightly yellowish tint. But Asians have gray gray - brittle, dryish.
Should I get rid of earwax?
Excessive hygiene care should not be taken in this matter. It is harmful to try to completely get rid of this substance - this will only push the wax deeper into the ear canal. It's better just not to touch if there is not much of it
But when the amount of sulfur is excessive, and this negatively affects the hearing, it is better to consult an ENT doctor for cleansing procedures.
The amount of sulfur is normal
Now about the amount of sulfur in the ears. It can depend, among other things, on fears and stress. An increase in volume can provoke any emotional shock.
Sulfur-producing glands belong to the apocrine class of glands responsible for the smell of sweat. Therefore, there is some connection between how strong the sweaty "amber", and the amount of earwax.
Ear cleaning
Many people clean their ears with special cotton swabs. However, ENT doctors do not advise doing this, since such a procedure can lead to the formation of sulfur plugs. The best way to clean your ears is to use a warm saline solution that is instilled into each ear (2-3 drops). If you cannot remove the plug in this way, you need to seek help from a specialist.
By the way, it is also better not to use ear candles unless absolutely necessary - they are fraught with burns, blockage of the ear canal and even rupture of the eardrum.
The human body is designed in such a way that it can get rid of excess wax in the ears on its own, while chewing or talking with the help of jaw movements. In general, ears can easily be cleaned with warm water while washing in a bath or at home. It will be both safe and effective.
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