Earwax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earwax |
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| Synonyms | Cerumen |
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| Wet-type human earwax | |
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| Prognosis | prevalence |
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a natural, waxy substance found in your ears. It's usually yellow, orange, brown, or grey. Earwax is super important for keeping your ears healthy and clean. It acts like a sticky trap for dust, dirt, and tiny germs that try to get into your ear canal.
Earwax also helps protect the delicate skin inside your ear. It keeps water out and even helps stop small insects from crawling in! Plus, it has special ingredients that fight off fungi and bacteria, which are tiny living things that can cause infections.
You might think earwax is gross, but it's actually a sign that your ears are doing their job! Most of the time, your ears clean themselves naturally, so you don't need to do much.
Contents
What is Earwax Made Of?
Earwax is a mix of different things. It's made from a waxy oil produced by special glands in the outer part of your ear canal. This oil mixes with dead skin cells, tiny hairs, and dirt.
There are two main types of earwax:
- Wet earwax: This type is common in people of European and African descent. It's usually moist, sticky, and can be yellowish-brown or dark brown.
- Dry earwax: This type is more common in people of East Asian and Native American descent. It's often flaky, dry, and greyish. Both types are normal and healthy!
Why Do We Have Earwax?
Earwax plays several important roles in keeping your ears safe and sound:
- Cleaning: It traps dust, dirt, and other small particles that enter your ear. This stops them from reaching the eardrum, which is a very sensitive part of your ear.
- Protection: It forms a protective layer on the skin of your ear canal. This helps prevent dryness and irritation.
- Germ Fighter: Earwax contains special chemicals that can kill or stop the growth of bacteria and fungi. This helps prevent ear infections.
- Water Repellent: The waxy nature of earwax helps to repel water. This is useful when you're swimming or showering, as it helps keep water from getting too far into your ear.
How Does Earwax Clean Itself?
Your ears are amazing at cleaning themselves! The movement of your jaw when you talk, chew, or yawn helps to slowly move old earwax out of your ear canal. As new skin cells grow, they also help push the old earwax towards the outside of your ear. Once it reaches the outer ear, it usually dries up and falls out on its own.
Because of this natural cleaning process, most people don't need to clean their ears much. Trying to clean inside your ear with cotton swabs or other objects can actually push earwax deeper into your ear. This can cause problems like blockages or even damage your eardrum.
When Earwax Becomes a Problem
Sometimes, earwax can build up too much and cause issues. This is called earwax impaction. It can happen if:
- You use cotton swabs or other objects to clean your ears, pushing the wax further in.
- Your ears produce a lot of earwax.
- Your ear canals are narrow or shaped in a way that makes it hard for wax to come out.
If you have too much earwax, you might notice:
- A feeling of fullness in your ear.
- Trouble hearing.
- An earache.
- Ringing in your ear (called tinnitus).
If you think you have too much earwax, it's best to talk to a doctor or a nurse. They can safely check your ears and remove the wax if needed. They have special tools and methods that won't harm your ears.
Images for kids
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Earwax
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Dry-type human earwax.
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An ear-cleaner, attending to a man's ear. Gouache painting, Delhi, 1825.
See also
In Spanish: Cerumen para niños
