Earwax is a natural secretion of the ear. It is produced by the ceruminous gland, which is located in the ear’s external auditory canal. This secretion mixes with excretions from the sebaceous glands, skin cells and hair to create a substance called cerumen. Cerumen is the technical name for earwax.
Earwax is designed to keep the ears clean, acting like a protective layer for the ear and eardrum, trapping dirt, bacteria and viruses as it travels from the middle ear to the outer ear. Once the wax has completed its journey to the outer ear, it is expelled by the body.
Sometimes excess wax can be produced, which often results in hearing difficulties and pain within the ear. Ear drops, such as Waxsol, help to soften the earwax, helping it to make its way out of the ear(s).