What is Ear Wax, Is it Necessary?
It may be hard to believe that ear wax can affect your health, but this light brown, orange, or yellow substance plays an important role in protecting your inner ear from bacteria and keeping you infection-free. In this post, we’re addressing these commonly asked questions about ear wax: · What is ear wax? · Why is ear wax necessary? · How do I safely clean my ears? · Can you have too much ear wax? Keep reading below to learn more about ear wax and your ear health. What is ear wax? Ear wax, also called cerumen, is a naturally-occurring substance that contains sweat, dead skin cells, and oil produced by apocrine glands in your ear canal. Everyone has ear wax, but the amount, color, and type may differ because of genetic characteristics, environmental factors, age, and diet. Why is ear wax necessary? Although scientists still don’t fully understand ear wax, we know it is beneficial to our health. Ear wax is a natural barrier in the outer ear that