Why Do I Have So Much Earwax? 5 Things That Could Be Causing Your Earwax Buildup

Making too much wax

Some people naturally make more earwax. For them, buildup can happen even when the ears are otherwise healthy. But excessive earwax production can also be a protective response. For example, frequent swimming or a previous injury to the outer ear can signal to the ear to make more wax to protect the skin of the ear canal. When your glands make more wax than your body can clear, wax can accumulate.

Outer ear skin changes

Conditions like swimmer’s ear (otitis externa), eczema, and autoimmune conditions can cause skin that lines the outer ear to shed more rapidly. Extra skin cells make earwax thicker. Thicker earwax moves out of the ear canal more slowly, and more wax can build up behind it, leading to a cerumen impaction. 

Narrowed or blocked ear canals

Anything that narrows or blocks the ear canal can stop or slow down earwax clearance. Some people have small bony growths or naturally narrow ear canals. Others develop narrowing from frequent ear infections or ear surgeries. When the pathway out of the ear is blocked, earwax has a harder time moving forward and is more likely to build up.

Dry wax

Drier earwax doesn’t move as easily and is more likely to stick to the ear canal walls. As people get older, earwax glands tend to produce wax with less moisture. Hair in the ear canal can trap wax, allowing it to dry out further. Placing objects in the ears — such as hearing aids or cotton swabs — can also trap wax, push it deeper, and encourage drying. All of these things increase the risk of buildup.

1. Hearing aids, earbuds, or ear plugs 

Anything that sits just inside your ear canal — like hearing aids, earbuds, and earplugs — will cause earwax to build up. That’s because they make it harder for earwax to leave the canal. 

Occasional earbud or earplug use probably won’t affect your earwax production. But routine use may affect your earwax — especially for several hours during work, commutes, and studying.

Try switching to over-the-ear headphones instead. If you need to wear earplugs for work, try switching to other forms of ear protection, like earmuffs approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

If you wear hearing aids, talk with your audiologist about your earwax. They may recommend switching your hearing aid style. You can also talk with a healthcare professional about earwax softeners, which can help prevent impaction.

2. Pollen counts and dust levels

During allergy season, when pollen counts are high, you might notice you have more earwax.

Earwax traps small particles like pollen before they can get to your eardrums and cause irritation. If your ears suddenly get attacked by high levels of these small particles, the glands that make earwax kick into overdrive. They start producing more wax to trap all that extra dust and pollen. 

Allergy medication will keep your allergy symptoms under control, but they won’t stop your glands from making earwax. But there are still things you can do to lower your earwax production: 

• Try to limit your time outside during high pollen counts. 

• Wash your hands, face, and the outside of your ears when you come inside to get extra pollen off. 

• If you’re driving during pollen season, keep your windows shut.

Exposure to dust or other small particles can also trigger excessive earwax production. If you’re exposed to dust or fine particles at work, wearing ear protection can keep you from making too much earwax. 

3. Cotton swabs/balls and earwax candles

Things like cotton swabs (Q-tips), cotton balls, and candles end up pushing earwax deeper into your ear. Then your earwax gets stuck and dried out so it can’t come out easily. Over time, more and more wax builds up, which increases your risk of developing an impaction. 

Experts recommend not using these things to clean your ears. Instead, try earwax cleaning methods that are both safe and effective. Here are some options:

• Use a clean towel after showering to dry and clean the outside of your ear. There’s no need to put anything inside your ear canal to clean your ear.

• Use 2 to 3 drops of earwax softeners once a week. These help your earwax stay soft so it comes out easier.

4. Cold weather

Humidity drops during cold winter months. This loss of humidity dries out the skin all over your body — including the skin inside your ear canal. Dry skin cells inside your ear canal flake off and build up in your ear canal. This prompts your glands to make more wax to try and get rid of those extra skin cells so they don’t accumulate inside your ear.

Regular moisturizing during cold months can protect the rest of your skin from drying out. While you can’t put moisturizer inside your ear canal, there are things you can do to get more moisture to the skin there. 

For example: Keep a humidifier running in your bedroom overnight during cold winter months. You can also leave bowls of water out in your home. This cost-effective method doesn’t work quite as well as a humidifier. But it’ll still add moisture to the air to protect your skin. 

5. Skin conditions

Certain skin conditions can prompt your glands to make more earwax. Eczema and psoriasis can affect the skin inside your ear canal. Both conditions make the skin more sensitive and more likely to flake off. The buildup of dead skin cells triggers your glands to make more earwax to help push out the buildup.

You’ll notice more earwax when you’re having a flare-up. But when your eczema or psoriasis is under control, your earwax production should go back to normal. Sticking with your treatment plan and avoiding triggers can help keep your skin healthy and your earwax to a minimum.

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