What Is Cerumen?
You may not have heard of the medical term cerumen before, but it’s likely that you’ve heard it called by its more common name, earwax. Cerumen is beneficial, providing protection for your ears against dryness, infections, and debris.
While cerumen, or earwax, is normally a good thing, you can have too much of it. However, it’s important to note that you should never try to eliminate earwax on your own, as your ears are sensitive and could suffer injury from home removal.
What Causes Earwax?
Produced in the outer ear canal, earwax is composed of moisturizing secretions, as well as skin and hair cells that have been shed.
How Is Cerumen Diagnosed?
Excessive earwax can cause mild hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), earaches and infections, a sensation of fullness in your affected ear(s), itchiness, discharge, an unpleasant odor, and a host of other issues.
Your ear, nose, and throat specialist, or ENT, will review your health history and perform a physical exam of your ear using an otoscope to look inside. They may conduct simple hearing tests as well.
How Is Earwax Treated?
There are several methods your doctor may use to eliminate ear wax. They may use a curved instrument known as a curet to pull it out.
They may also flush it out using a syringe filled with warm water or remove it with a suction device. If you suffer from chronic earwax buildup, they may recommend medications for wax removal.
Where Can I Get Treatment for Earwax in McLean?
Please, don’t attempt to remove cerumen yourself, as it can cause damage and even lead to hearing issues. For earwax removal in McLean, contact our ENTs today at 703-448-0005.
There’s no need to suffer from temporary hearing loss or other symptoms of excessive earwax any longer!
