Earwax: the oily, sticky substance your ears produce. It might not be glamorous, but it’s familiar to everyone—and, believe it or not, it’s important to our overall well being. But where does earwax come from? In this article, we’ll discover ceruminous glands and their functions, the role earwax plays in our health, what can happen when too much earwax builds up in our ears and options for treating these impactions.
Inside our ear canals, we have special earwax glands, called our ceruminous glands. These modified sweat glands are responsible for producing earwax, or cerumen. While it might seem unpleasant or even unnecessary, earwax plays an essential role in protecting our ears and keeping our bodies healthy.
Earwax is a sticky, yellowish substance secreted by the ceruminous glands in your ear canal. Your body naturally makes earwax to coat the lining of your ear canal and protect and lubricate the area. Earwax plays a crucial role in keeping your ears healthy. Sometimes called “nature’s flypaper,” earwax traps dust, bacteria and foreign objects, preventing them from entering your ear where they could damage the delicate skin within. Without earwax, our ears would be more vulnerable to germs and debris that could get inside and cause damage.
The easiest way to think about your ceruminous glands’ location is to consider where your earwax comes from. Earwax is produced in the outer ear, and the lining of the external auditory canal is where most of your ceruminous glands are located. In fact, the average human ear has between 1,000 and 2,000 ceruminous glands!
There are a couple of main functions of ceruminous glands:
Earwax benefits your ears and is vital to your ear hygiene in several key ways. As mentioned previously, earwax traps any foreign objects (like bacteria, dust, small insects or other debris) from entering your ears and damaging your ear canals. Earwax also helps protect your inner ear from water, which can irritate the delicate skin of the ear canal.
While ceruminous glands play a vital role in ear health, they can also be linked to certain health problems. Two common ceruminous gland issues are impacted cerumen (earwax buildup) and tumors.
Even though earwax production is a normal bodily function, it’s a delicate balance between enough and too much. Usually, your earwax will make its way to the opening of your ear where it will either fall out or be removed by normal washing.
In some cases, however, your ceruminous glands produce more wax than necessary. When too much wax builds up, it can harden in the ear canal and cause a wax-impacted eardrum.
This can lead to symptoms such as hearing loss, earache, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or a feeling of fullness in the ear. In most cases, impacted earwax can be resolved at home by using remedies to soften the wax. Common remedies include baby oil, commercial ear drops, glycerin or mineral oil. If the earwax blockage persists, see a healthcare professional who can assist with safe removal.
To avoid damaging your ear, avoid using cotton swabs, as they can push the wax further into the ear. You should also never irrigate the ear if you suspect your eardrum may have a hole in it (which can be caused by an ear infection) or if you have recently had ear surgery.
Learn more about earwax blockages and at-home remedies for earaches.
Although rare in humans, ceruminous glands can develop tumors, which can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors are non-cancerous and often slow growing. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can spread quickly to other parts of the body. Below are some examples of the different ceruminous gland tumor types for both categories:
The symptoms of ceruminous gland tumors can vary depending on if the tumor is benign or malignant but may include ear pain, hearing loss, a visible mass in the ear canal or ear discharge. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult a doctor for evaluation and treatment.
Ceruminous glands play an essential role in protecting and maintaining ear health by producing earwax. Though often overlooked, earwax prevents infections and shields the ear from harmful particles. However, when ceruminous glands malfunction, issues like impacted earwax or tumors can arise. Staying informed about these potential problems and seeking medical attention when needed ensures your ears remain healthy and protected.
