How To Remove an Ear Wax Blockage Fast

Earwax or Cerumen is produced by glands inside the ears as part of their cleaning mechanism. Just as eyes make tears and the nose produces mucus, earwax is a protective substance that catches dirt, debris and bacteria before it reaches the eardrum. It usually passes out of the ears naturally, but sometimes it can build up and harden, causing a blockage.¹

Ear wax blockages are common problems and can be uncomfortable or even painful. Luckily they can be treated using Earol Olive Oil Spray, a simple and effective metered dose that can be bought at most pharmacies and retailers. Pharmaceutical-grade olive oil is shown to soften earwax and help it leave the ear naturally.² 

If over-the-counter treatments do not work, the blockage may be severe and should be removed by a doctor or audiologist. In most cases, the doctor will recommend using olive oil daily for 4-5 days before an ear wax removal appointment, at which a physician will irrigate the ear with water to flush the blockage out or use suction to remove the ear wax. 

While there is no instant treatment for ear wax blockages, using a cerumenolytic such as Earol Olive Oil Spray can help relieve symptoms and make professional ear wax removal quicker and easier.

Why does Earwax Build Up?

Some people’s ears are regularly blocked because they produce more wax than the ear canal can manage. Other reasons why someone may experience blocked ears include:

• Producing wax which hardens or dries quickly
• Having narrow or hairy ear canals
• Old age, as earwax becomes drier as we get older
• Exposure to high levels of dust and debris, causing more earwax production
• Frequently putting objects into the ear canal, e.g. cotton buds, ear plugs, in-ear headphones or hearing aids.³

Earwax hardens over time and normally falls out of the ear canal before it dries out. If it hardens inside the ear canal, blocking further earwax from leaving, it can build up and create large, painful blockages.

Signs your Ears may be Blocked

You may be suffering from earwax build-up if you experience these symptoms:

• hearing loss, as though your ears have ‘popped’
• earache or a blocked feeling in your ears
• ringing or buzzing (known as tinnitus)
• In some cases, vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)⁴

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a medical professional and seek advice to unblock your ears.

The Best Way to Remove an Earwax Blockage

If you have a painful blockage, it can be tempting to try to remove it yourself. Never insert anything into the ear canal that is smaller than your elbow, as this can worsen the blockage and push the earwax deeper.¹ There are plenty of safe methods for removing earwax that can be done at home or with the help of a physician.

According to research from the University of Southampton,⁴ cerumenolytics and oils such as pharmaceutical-grade olive oil “can effectively remove earwax, and that ear irrigation works better when cerumenolytics are used first.”² 

Earol Olive Oil Spray uses a patented delivery system to spray an atomised dose of high-quality pharmaceutical-grade olive oil into the ear canal. The oil mixes with the earwax, softening it and gently helping it to come unstuck from the skin in the inner ear canal.

How to remove ear wax buildup with Olive Oil Spray

1. Gently roll the bottle in your hand to warm the oil
2. Shake the bottle well
3. Pull the upper ear upwards and backwards
4. Place the nozzle at the entrance of the ear canal, holding the bottle upright.
5. Press the actuator down fully to spray olive oil into the ear. You can do this once or twice as needed.
6. Gently massage the tragus (just in front of the ear). This helps work the olive oil into the wax.

Make sure you clean the spray nozzle after use. This cone can easily be unscrewed from the rest of the mechanism to make it easy to rinse with warm water.

This method is a natural, accessible and safe way to aid earwax removal. Earol Olive Oil spray can relieve the symptoms of a blockage, such as dryness, irritation and itching. It has mild antimicrobial properties, which can help prevent infections that sometimes occur as a result of blockages.

Repeat this process daily for 4-5 days before an ear wax removal appointment for the best results. In some mild cases, the blockage will soften enough to fall out on its own during this period. You should keep your appointment so the doctor or audiologist can inspect your ear and ensure no further problems occur.

Prevent Earwax Build-Up with Earol Olive Oil Spray

Your doctor may recommend using an olive oil cerumenolytic such as Earol once a week to prevent future build-ups. Regular use can help keep wax soft until it falls out of the ear canal. The long-term use of olive oil is safe, with no reported side effects.⁵ Earol Olive Oil Spray is available over-the-counter in most UK pharmacies and retailers as well as on Amazon, providing a safe, accessible natural remedy for earwax build-up.

References

¹ Earwax Build-Up, NHS Health A-Z [Internet], 28 Jan 21, accessed 24 May 23 at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/

² Outer ear infection: What helps if earwax builds up? Informed Health [Internet] 13 Feb 23, accessed 24 May 23 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279354/

³ Earwax build-up, NHS inform [Internet] 23 March 23, accessed 24 May 23 at https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/ears-nose-and-throat/earwax-build-up

⁴ Clegg, A. J., Loveman, E., Gospodarevskaya, E., Harris, P., Bird, A., Bryant, J., Scott, D. A., Davidson, P., Little, P., & Coppin, R. (2010). The safety and effectiveness of different methods of earwax removal: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England), 14(28), 1–192. https://doi.org/10.331\0/hta14280

⁵ HL Healthcare Ltd, Earol Olive Oil Spray: Instructions for Use.