Cerumen Removal

Cerumen Removal

Cerumen is the generic medical term for earwax. This is a wax-like substance with a yellowish aspect which is secreted in the human ear canal, and which has an important role in cleaning, lubricating and protecting the ear canal against invasive agents such as insects, bacteria and fungi. However, the presence of excessive quantities of this substance in the ear canal or the compaction of the substance may cause hearing impairment by blocking the external portion of the auditory canal or by applying pressure against the eardrums.

Recent studies have shown that cerumen is responsible for over 80% of the hearing deficiency issues, and in severe cases it may cause loss of hearing. As such, Cerumen Removal is a procedure that not only assists in the prevention of hearing problems, but may also effectively treat hearing impairment. However, it is strongly recommended that the removal of the compacted or excess cerumen is performed by a specialized health care professional; you should no attempt to remove it by yourself as in most cases this will only serve to worsen the condition.

Cerumen Removal is indicated in situations where the exams reveal evidence of cerumen impaction or when there are reasons to suspect that cerumen impaction is present, based on the patient’s medical history or on the observation of secondary symptoms. However, this procedure is contraindicated if the patient is unable to cooperate, if several prior attempts have been made and have failed or if complications are present (infections or perforation of the tympanic membrane). Also, this procedure should not be attempted if the patient is suffering from contralateral deafness or if he or she has undergone mastoid or ear surgical procedures in the past.

While Cerumen Removal also occurs naturally to some extent, when chewing, talking or moving the jaw, in some situations medical assistance is required. As such several procedures have been devised to remove excess cerumen from the patient’s external auditory canal. These procedures are generally fast and painless, and have a high rate of success. We will detail these procedures in the next chapter of this guide.

Cerumen Removal Description

The first type of Cerumen Removal procedure is cerumenolysis – a procedure during which the earwax is softened by introducing a cerumenolytic agent into the ear canal. This normally causes the wax to come out, or at least to soften it facilitating removal by means of other procedures. This procedure is commonly applied in domestic treatment, with the most often used cerumenolytic agent being olive oil. Also, research has shown that there are no major differences between employing this method regularly for a number of days in a row and applying cerumenolysis in a single session before the irrigation.

After cerumenolysis, the health care professional will attempt Cerumen Removal by means of irrigation of the ear canal by using the syringing technique. This procedure involves the irrigation of the ear canal with warm water, sodium bicarbonate solutions, normal saline, or diluted vinegar – at this time there is no scientific evidence that any of these solutions is more efficient in removing the cerumen. Before irrigation, it is recommended that the solution is brought to body temperature; this is because using colder or warmer solutions may cause dizziness and vertigo. The physician needs to be careful to irrigate gently; if using too much pressure, the process may become painful. In general, it is recommended that Cerumen Removal through irrigation is performed slowly. Once the procedure is completed, the head should be tipped in order to allow the solution to drain, and the process may be repeated as needed.

Another procedure employed to remove compacted earwax is the curette method. This involves the use of an ear pick to dislodge and scoop the solid cerumen out of the ear canal. However, this method is more hazardous than the procedures described above. In general, it is recommended that no solid objects are inserted into the ear. This Cerumen Removal procedure may only be employed by specialized health care professionals. Cotton swabs are also not recommended; using them tends to push the wax deeper in the ear canal, while removing only small quantities that adhere to the cotton.

Cerumen Removal Related Medication

Cerumen Removal does not typically involve any medical or pharmaceutical preparations, with the only exception being the cerumenolysis procedure. The cerumenolytic agents that may be employed are often organic liquids such as olive oil, mineral oil, almond oil, baby oil or glycerol, however in some cases the health care professionals choose to employ solutions based on Glycerine, in combination with Sodium bicarbonate or Carbamide peroxide.

Cerumenolytic agents are also available to purchase in pharmacies under several brand names. For example, a substance based on Dichlorobenzene, arachis oil and Turpentine is available under the brand name Cerumol; Cerumenex is a substance containing polypeptides, Triethanolamine and oleate-condensate, and Exterol contains Hydrogen Peroxide, Glycerine and urea. Another example of a cerumenolytic agent used for Cerumen Removal is Docusate, a detergent compound that is also found as an ingredient in several laxative preparations.In some cases, health care professionals will prefer to use weak antibiotic substances in combination with the irrigation solution, in order to prevent infections. This not only helps increase the patient’s safety during and after Cerumen removal, but my also help treat ear infections if present.

Your health care professional may advise you to use other substances as well; in many cases, these are either substances used for the softening of the compacted earwax, or solutions employed during irrigation. Also, once the wax has been removed, the physician may direct you to use certain detergents or cleansing solutions which will prevent further compaction of the cerumen. If you have been recommended to use such products, it is strongly recommended that you ask your physician to provide you with guidelines on how to properly use the solution; he or she will be able to provide you with details regarding the appropriate dosage, the recommended number of applications per day, the duration of the therapy as well as with other useful information.