What is "ear wax"?

What is "ear wax"?

Jason Hamilton (Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon) gives expert video advice on: What should I do if I suffer a sudden hearing loss?; How does excessive noise affect my hearing?; Which diseases or illnesses can cause hearing impairment? and more...

Ear wax is made of two components. It's made of sebum, which is secreted by the sebaceous glands in the ear canal, and cerumen, which is secreted by cerumen glands in the ear canal. This material mixes together and it helps to lubricate the ear as well as keep the pH in the ear at an acidic level. That acidic level helps prevent bacteria from growing, and prevents infection. When Q-tips are used they actually remove the wax and effectively remove some of the protection from the ear, so that if patients that swim or wash their hair and there's water left in the ear, many times they'll get an outer ear infection, simply from their chronic use of Q-tips. Q-tips are dangerous. Otolaryngolists actually have a saying that anything smaller than your elbow shouldn't go in your ear, which pretty much means nothing should go in your ear.