Table of contents:
- What is earwax?
- What are the textures and colors of earwax?
- 1. Yellow and soft
- 2. The color is blackish brown and dry
- 3. Pale yellow color and dry
- 4. Yellow or brown with redness
- 5. Black color
- How do I clean earwax?
- 1. Use ear drops
- 2. Doctor's care
Earwax, also known in medical terms as cerumen, is a collection of dead skin cells, hair, or wax located outside the ear canal. Although disgusting, the color of wax can change and indicate the cleanliness and health of your ears. Further, see the explanation below.
What is earwax?
As already mentioned, cerumen or cerumen is a collection of dead skin cells found on the outside of your ear. Even though it looks disgusting, this wax works to lubricate and protect the ear from bacteria or small insects that enter the ear.
When the ear is cleaned, the wax color often changes. Sometimes yellow, gray, or black. Actually, what does the color of wax in your ears mean? Come on, find out the answer in the following review.
Your ears naturally produce wax to prevent infectious foreign substances from entering the ear canal. Over the course of days, this waxy substance will accumulate together with dead skin cells to form wax.
When the wax builds up, the wax will push itself towards the outer ear to be expelled. So, don't be strange if one day you find wax coming out of your ears on its own.
However, the accumulated wax often makes your ears itch. You will definitely want to remove the dirt with a variety of tools, ranging from cotton buds, plastic or metal earplugs and vacuum cleaner. However, you should not do this because it can be bad for the health of your ears.
What are the textures and colors of earwax?
The color of earwax varies widely, depending on one's health and ethnicity. But generally, the wax will be brownish yellow and sticky or grayish yellow and dry.
One time, the wax can change color from usual, which is red or black. Here's an explanation of the texture and color of earwax that you need to know, such as:
1. Yellow and soft
Stool that looks yellow and feels soft is new wax. This is not a problem, as long as the discharge is not too runny and leaves your ear canal.
If this wax is produced more, even almost dripping from the ear, followed by other symptoms that make the ear uncomfortable, immediately check with a doctor. It is possible that this condition is caused by a middle ear infection (otitis media).
2. The color is blackish brown and dry
Earwax is not removed from the body right away. The dirt will settle and continue to accumulate with dead skin cells. This old stool is usually dark brown in color and tends to be dry.
The dark color comes from dirt and bacteria trapped in the ear. Adults tend to have wax that is darker and harsher.
3. Pale yellow color and dry
When brown dirt starts to push out, it can turn pale yellow and very dry, like peeling skin flakes. However, it can also remain dark brown in color. The difference in color of earwax is influenced by ethnicity.
People of Caucasian and African-American descent, tend to have wax that is darker in color and sticky. Meanwhile, Native Americans and East Asian descendants tend to have dry and thin wax.
However, you need to pay attention if the pale wax is followed by other symptoms, such as rapid peeling of the skin or a red rash. It could be that this condition indicates you have eczema or psoriasis.
4. Yellow or brown with redness
There is a reddish color on your cerumen, which indicates a wound. This condition can occur due to too much friction when you clean your ear or get an injury around the ear.
When this happens you should stop cleaning the ear, until the wound is dry. If there is a lot of blood coming out, check with your doctor immediately so that the condition does not get worse.
5. Black color
Earwax that is blackish in color indicates that the accumulated wax is too large and difficult to pass. This overproduction of ear wax usually occurs when you are feeling stressed, anxious, or afraid.
Although they are generally yellow or brown in color, wax can be deep black in color. This condition is common and rarely indicates a serious condition. The following conditions may cause the wax to turn black:
- Older age and male gender
- Blocked ears
How do I clean earwax?
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, earwax doesn't actually need to be cleaned using any tools. Serumen will usually come out on its own. However, the treatment options below may be helpful in dealing with wax that has accumulated or clogged your ears.
1. Use ear drops
Using fingers or cotton bud not a wise way to deal with accumulated wax. You will need ear drops to soften the wax so that it is easier to pass.
You can find various types of ear drops easily at the pharmacy, such as glycerin, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, olive oil, or baby oil. How to use it is quite easy, namely put 2 to 3 drops of the drug into the ear. Wait a few moments, then the ears are cleaned.
2. Doctor's care
If ear drops don't work, check with an ENT doctor immediately. The doctor will recommend several medications to get rid of the accumulated wax, such as:
- Removing wax with a small tool called a curette. This tool is designed to scrape wax out of the ear canal.
- Suck in the build-up of wax with a special tool that works like a small vacuum cleaner.
- Perform irrigation, which is inserting a saline solution into the ear canal to soften the wax so that it is easy to remove.
