Monday 1 May 2017

The Formation Of Ear Wax And Related Problems



The elimination of wax must remain moderate under pain of doing more harm than good. The issue of ear cleansing is very often asked by patients attending an ENT. It is motivated by a concern for hygiene, especially for children. And it is fashionable to present to others ears of irreproachable cleanliness. Now, wax, the natural secretion of the auditory canal, is wrongly considered as undesirable because it is not dirty.

Earwax is produced by the skin of the duct, a little like the sweat, and is deposited harmoniously on the walls, realizing a protective film, antiseptic and hydrophobic. Earwax, incorrectly called sometimes human wax, has a similar composition: it is, in fact, fatty, lipid-filled, thick, of a well-known consistency, "sticky" (but sometimes too dry) Light yellow to black, passing through all the shades of brown, sometimes reddish, without this colour having the least pathological significance.

It is transported by the skin as on a conveyor belt, coming very slowly from the depth (2.5 cm on average, and at the speed of the shoot of a nail), becomes impurities, to run aground of the orifice of the duct. It is this "terminal" accumulation that justifies for many a regular cleaning. However, it can become obsessive and lead to complications well known to physicians. This is why there are clinics for ear wax removal in London.


Another reason why there is ear wax removal in London is in case of an emergency. A false movement and this is catastrophe: the cleaning instrument can sink very deeply, bleed or even puncture the eardrum, causing intense pain and hearing loss. The worst thing is that by repeating the untimely cleanings as the days pass, months, conscientiously wax the earwax, forming a cork which ends up causing a very uncomfortable deafness.

1 comment:

  1. Hi @danielclarke. Do you think it is ethical for a GP, whose contract with NHS England is funded by the taxpayer, to advertise their service on other people's profiles?

    Furthermore, do you think it is ethical for an NHS GP to choose to stop offering ear irrigation free at the point of need, and then give their patients the choice of waiting months for an NHS microsuction appointment, or pay privately to get the same service at the Corfton Road Surgery where they used to get ear wax removal for free? Surely it's something the Tax Payers Alliance will take an interest in http://www.taxpayersalliance.com/contact_us

    ReplyDelete