Why should the ear wash be repeated?

What is ear wax?

The Human Ear consists of the Outer Ear, the Middle Ear and the Inner Ear The Outer Ear is divided into two parts: The Cartilage and the Bone part. The Cartilage contains Sebaceous glands and Sweat glands (bristles):

The Sebaceous glands secrete a viscous fatty substance containing Amino Acids, Viscous substances, Enzymes and Antibiotics that capture and kill Microbes.

While the Sweat glands (bristles) produce a more liquid substance to hold the dust and get rid of it.

Now the Earwax is a mixture of Secretions of the Sebaceous glands, sweat glands and dead skin cells, which the Ear expels when it is self-cleaning. It is a sticky yellow waxy substance that may be soft or hard. The amount and type of Secretions vary from person to person.

Sometimes, however, the wax materials accumulate due to certain problems or some malpractices therefore the External Auditory Canal gets blocked by it, causing a hearing loss, feeling itching, pain, and possibly dizziness, and the Ear needs to undergo an Ear wash.

How to wash the Ear at the Doctor?

The Ear is washed by a machine that resembles a water fountain. It releases water flowing with appropriate pressure. It is painless, Brine or Water distilled at the same body temperature (37°).

The Doctor directs the water to the top of the Earwax -paying attention to the Eardrum- then the Liquid comes out with the Secretions, the Doctor puts a renal pelvis below the Ear to receive the water outside, and then the Ear must be dried well to prevent any sorts of Fungi or infections.

Before washing, Earwax may be stiff and adjoining the External Auditory Canal wall. The Doctor must prescribe a Laxative which is used for three days and then the washing can proceed.

Why is the Ear wash must be done again?

When you undergo an Ear wash, you have to repeat it several times. The Doctor's decision to do this means that the Ear has lost the ability to expel Secretions for several reasons, so after a period -varies from person to person- the Wax accumulates again within the Ear, the patient needs a new wash, and the time varies between each and every time ranging from 3 to 6 months and may reach once a year.

Causes of ear blockage with wax:

• Improper cleaning of the Ear using cotton chopsticks might push the wax further inside
• Increase the Secretion of Sebaceous and Sweat glands due to the effects of a strange body such as an Insect, or an infection or due to genetic factors.
• Accumulation of Secretions causes difficulty to expel it from the Ear.
• Having fungus in the External Auditory Canal.
• The size of the External Ear Canal might be small compared to excretions
• Water might enters the Ear during bathing or swimming causes an increasing in the size of the Earwax.
• Aging also affects the process of expelling Earwax Secretions.