Earwax normally just falls out on its own. When it’s blocking your ears, a pharmacist can help
Symptoms of earwax build-up
Symptoms of earwax build-up include:
- hearing loss
- earache or a feeling that your ears are blocked
- ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)
- vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)
How you can treat earwax build-up yourself
Earwax usually falls out on its own. If it does not, and builds up and blocks your ear, you can try to remove it.
To remove earwax build-up:
- Lie on your side with the affected ear facing up.
- Put 2 to 3 drops of olive or almond oil in your ear – do not use almond oil if you’re allergic to almonds.
- Continue to lie on your side for 5 to 10 minutes after putting in the oil.
- Repeat 3 to 4 times a day, for 3 to 5 days.
Over about 2 weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out of your ear and your symptoms should improve.
There’s no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums get rid of earwax.
Important – Do not use your fingers or any objects like cotton buds to remove earwax. This will push it in and make it worse.
A pharmacist can help with earwax build-up
Speak to a pharmacist about earwax build-up. They can give advice and suggest treatments.
They might recommend medicines to dissolve the earwax. The earwax should fall out on its own or dissolve after about a week.
Do not use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum (a perforated eardrum).
Causes of earwax build-up
A build-up of earwax can happen if you have:
- narrow or damaged ear canals
- lots of hair in your ear canals
- a skin condition affecting your scalp or around your ear
- inflammation of your ear canal (otitis externa or “swimmer’s ear”)
Preventing earwax build-up
You cannot prevent earwax. It’s there to protect your ears from dirt and germs.
But regularly using eardrops, or olive or almond oil, will help soften earwax build-up. This will help it fall out on its own and should stop your ears getting blocked.
You can self-refer to book in for a hearing test or hearing aids using the link below:
Book Free NHS Hearing Test & Hearing Aids | Oxon & Bucks
There are local services that will assist with ear irrigation:
Wheatley pharmacy – please call on 01865 874047 or visit their website:
Wheatley Pharmacy | Travel Vaccination in Oxford | Ear Wax Removal
Tripp Hearing – 01865 671500 or visit their website:
Oxford’s Trusted Hearing Specialist | Tripp Hearing
Nuffield Health
Hearing Aid, Audiology, Treatment | Nuffield Health
Please find more information in attached leaflet: