Serumen Prop, When Dirt Closes The Ear Canal

Cerumen or ear wax is a form of natural body defense to protect the ear from foreign objects and infections. Serumen prop is a condition where the outer ear canal is blocked by a pile of cerumen or earwax. Do you know if ear wax or serumen is one form of our body's natural defenses? Serumen is responsible for cleaning, lubricating, and protecting our ear canal by slowing down the growth of bacteria and trapping dirt which can damage the structure of the ear deeper. In addition, serumen is also useful to protect our ears from dust, microorganisms, foreign particles, and irritation when you get water. Normal amount of serumen does not need to be cleaned frequently or removed from the ear. Under normal conditions, the presence of serumen will not cause interference or complaints. Therefore, routine serumen cleaning should not be done, except in certain groups such as the elderly, hearing aid users, or in people with a history of excessive serumen who are recommended to routinely clean the ears by a doctor. Usually earwax can move by itself from the ear canal to the outside of the ear. However, there are times when the dirt can not get out and actually settles in the ear, causing cerumen prop that blocks the ear canal. Serumen prop can occur for several reasons, namely:

• Excessive ear wax production.
• Hard and dry earwax.
• Often insert objects into the ear canal such as cotton buds, ear plugs, or even hearing aids.
• The ear canal is narrow or hairy.
• There is bone growing on the outside of the ear canal.
• As we get older, ear wax becomes drier.

We can feel the signs of serumen prop in our ears. Starting from the ear aches, itchy ears, ear infections, vertigo or dizziness spinning, hearing is reduced or can not hear (conductive deafness), ears buzzing, until you feel the sensation of blocked ears. Dangerous symptoms in the ear that need to be immediately examined and treated by a doctor is when there are symptoms as above accompanied by discharge from the ear, bleeding ears, fever, and severe hearing loss. Fortunately, serumen prop can be treated in the following easy ways:

• Do not insert a cotton bud or any object into the ear to take a pile of wax. If done, ear wax can go deeper and damage the ear. Incorrect ways to clean your ears can cause damage to the eardrum.
• Dripping a special ear fluid containing sodium bicarbonate, olive oil, almond oil, baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin, or special liquid containing hydrogen peroxide every few days (for example 2-3 times a day for 3-7 days) so that the dirt softens and out by itself from the ear.
• After soft earwax, spray warm water gently into the ear canal. Tilt your head and pull the earlobe when the water is inserted. When finished, straighten your head so that water flows out and dry the outer ear with a clean towel. But keep in mind, this one point is not suitable if the eardrum is torn, has an infection, or has had ear surgery.
• Use a special small-sized device to suck up the build-up of serumen prop out of the ear.
• Use a special tool to clean the ears and scrape the serumen prop out of the ear.

Measures to clean the ears using special tools can be done by a specialist ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist. The procedure for cleaning cerumen prop usually does not cause pain, except in the ear that has inflammation or infection. Complaints in the ear are symptoms that should not be left alone, especially if it has caused hearing loss or there are signs of ear infection. Does ear candle or ear spa can treat cerumen prop? There are no clinical trials or accurate data regarding the effects of these alternative treatments on cerumen prop or general hearing organ health. On serumen prop accompanied by signs of ear infection, you are not advised to use this product because it can further damage the burrow and eardrum. Keep in mind, the various treatments above are not necessarily suitable for everyone. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately go to the ENT doctor if you feel or experience signs of cerumen prop. The goal is that we get a fast and appropriate treatment. And once again, do not ever pry or insert any object into the ear to remove serumen prop.