Think You Might Have Earwax Buildup? Here's What You Need to Know

Written by Rahul PuriSuperintendent Pharmacist, MPharm, PgDip, PgCert IP

Medically reviewed 31 July 2025

Blocked hearing or ringing needs an assessment rather than an automatic diagnosis of earwax. Explain when the change began and whether it affects one or both ears.

The ear canal glands lead to the formation of earwax. The earwax and tiny ear hair help trap the dust and dirt that enter the ear canal. It helps by preventing the entry of external elements into the deeper part of an ear, especially the eardrum. 

Every day, a small amount of earwax makes its way to the ear opening. From here, the wax either falls off or gets washed away as new earwax replaces it. Earwax can accumulate and obstruct your ear canal if your ears produce too much of it or if it isn’t sufficiently removed.

People often attempt to remove the deeply impacted earwax using cotton earbuds or other objects. This can be harmful and push the earwax deep into the ear canal. A few different reasons for earwax buildup are:

• Individuals with narrow and irregularly shaped ear canals often face problems with natural earwax removal.
• Excessive hair growth in the ear canal can trap a lot of earwax.
• Older adults often produce harder and drier earwax, which is more likely to cause blockage.
• Frequent usage of earplugs and hearing aids can prevent the natural removal of earwax.

For non-urgent ear concerns, see the Puri Pharmacy ear-health service. Confirm the assessment, costs and follow-up arrangements. Urgent warning symptoms follow the medical-care route above.