Causes of Earwax

Home

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A |

| B |

| C |

| D |

| E |

| F |

| G |

| H |

| I |

| J |

| K |

| L |

| M |

| N |

| O |

| P |

| Q |

| R |

| S |

| T |

| U |

| V |

| W |

| X |

| Y |

Some people naturally produce more wax than others, and therefore are more likely to experience a build up or blockage in the ear. In such cases, further blockages are likely, even after the plug has been removed by a nurse or your GP. The same is true for people who have particularly narrow ear canals, which are more easily blocked.

A common cause of blockage is when people attempt to clean the ear, for example with a cotton bud. They can push the wax further into the ear and pack it harder together, creating a plug.

In addition, the rate at which wax is produced is affected by irritation to the skin inside the ear. Putting objects such as paperclips, cotton buds, or toothpicks in the ear means more wax is likely to be produced, making a blockage more likely.