Earwax build-up
Overview
Earwax normally just falls out on its own. When it's blocking your ears, a pharmacist can help.
Symptoms
Symptoms of earwax build-up include: hearing lossearache or a feeling that your ears are blockedringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)
Causes
A build-up of earwax can happen if you have: narrow or damaged ear canalslots of hair in your ear canalsa skin condition affecting your scalp or around your earinflammation of your ear canal (otitis externa or "swimmer's ear")
Treatment
Not all GP surgeries remove earwax build-up. Some can: flush the wax out with water (electronic ear irrigation)suck the wax out (microsuction)scrape the wax out using a very small device These treatments are usually painless. If your GP surgery does not treat earwax build-up, a doctor might be able to refer you to another local NHS service for treatment. Or you might have to pay to have the treatment done privately.
Prevention
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.