When it comes to ear care, we often can't avoid a somewhat "delicate" topic—earwax. Commonly referred to as "ear gunk" in everyday language, its medical name is "cerumen." This substance is produced by a tiny organ in our ears called the ceruminous gland. Despite its unassuming appearance and somewhat "messy" reputation, earwax plays the role of a silent guardian for our ears. However, many people have a habit of cleaning their ears—a soothing and stress-relieving activity. But, the scientific reasoning and health risks behind this action often go unnoticed.
Earwax is like a "bodyguard" for the eardrum, serving both lubricating and protective functions. Think of earwax as a meticulous "servant," coating the outer ear canal with a thin layer of "lubricating oil," ensuring that the eardrum doesn’t get too dry or “thirsty.” Meanwhile, this "bodyguard" remains vigilant, fending off dust, small insects, and other uninvited guests. When these intruders try to approach the eardrum, earwax steps in to build a strong "firewall." Moreover, earwax acts as an "antimicrobial warrior," packed with proteins that function as "swords," killing or inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi to keep the ear canal clean and safe. Additionally, earwax maintains a slightly acidic "profile," a toxic environment for bacteria and fungi, making it difficult for them to survive.
Earwax also has an incredible skill: "automatic relocation." Our ear canals seem to be equipped with a highly efficient "conveyor belt." During daily activities such as chewing and speaking, the skin of the ear canal gradually "pushes" earwax outward, allowing it to naturally "move out." This mechanism not only efficiently prevents "garbage accumulation" but also keeps the ear canal clean and clear.
The sensation of cleaning your ears—that itchy yet pleasant feeling—feels like giving your ears a little "massage." This is because the ear canal is filled with sensitive nerve endings. The action of cleaning stimulates these nerves, generating a sense of pleasure. However, this enjoyable feeling can sometimes become addictive, leading us to over-clean our ear canals, which might ultimately harm them. Frequent ear cleaning is akin to relocating earwax but in the wrong direction—it may push the wax deeper into the ear canal, forming a cerumen plug that makes the ear feel "blocked." Even worse, careless ear cleaning could damage the ear canal’s delicate skin, allowing bacteria to invade and cause infection. The most severe consequence would be accidentally cleaning too deeply, damaging the eardrum, which could directly impact our hearing and cause significant harm to the ear.
The skin of the ear canal has its own "cleaning system." Just as nails continue to grow, the skin cells deep in the ear canal slowly "migrate" toward the ear canal opening at a rate of about 0.05 millimetres per day. During this process, these skin cells mix with the secretions from sebaceous and ceruminous glands, forming what we call earwax. This mechanism functions as the ear's built-in "cleaner," quietly maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the ear canal.
