When to seek medical attention
Your eardrum and ear canal are delicate, so while you can treat an earwax blockage at home, it will be safer to let your ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor perform the earwax removal.
If removing ear wax at home is not successful, or if you have an accumulation of wax in your ear that is causing a blockage in your ear canal and is affecting your hearing, seek medical attention. You should also see your doctor if you have any drainage or bleeding coming from your ear, or if you are in a lot of pain. Another ENT issue to consider would be the source behind these symptoms.
Ear wax cleaning solutions
Your doctor can prescribe you specific ear drops that will help soften the wax, or they may just vacuum or wash it out. Also, a curette (a small surgical tool), a rubber ball syringe, irrigation, and suction can all be used to remove ear blockage. In some cases, an ENT or otolaryngologist might need a microscopic visualization procedure to remove the wax.
Before using any over-the-counter therapies, you should consult a doctor if you believe you may have a perforated eardrum. When there is an eardrum perforation, putting eardrops or other products in your ear can result in infection. Even washing water through a perforation can lead to an infection.
Since ear drops may irritate sensitive eardrum and ear canal skin, you need to take them just as your doctor instructs you to. If you have a persistent earwax buildup issue, your doctor may recommend a wax-removal medication like carbamide peroxide.
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