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Only a few people pay attention to the color of ear discharge. It has been shown that a change in this color can be a sign of an emerging disease. In a healthy person earwax has a honey color and is divided into two types: dry and moist – depending on hereditary factors.
For example, if you are a carrier of the ABCC11 gene, then your earwax has a dry consistency. In the case of the G (GBCC11) gene, the wax will be more moist.
Ear discharge is produced by about 200,000 sebaceous glands in the outer ear canal (by the way, the same glands provide natural lubrication to our hair). Added to all that are hairs, dead skin and other bodily residues.
Some scientists believe that the secretion serves not only for lubrication but also as protection of the body against pathogenic bacteria. We will therefore tell you how the earwax of a healthy person should look.
Darkened earwax
This coloration does not represent any threat and is not a disease. However, if this symptom is accompanied by nosebleeds, it may be the initial phase of the development of Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome. It is a hereditary disease that is treated by administering medications with a high iron content.
Liquid, milky yellow earwax
Indicates an initial process of pus formation in the ear canal. Along with this, symptoms such as fever, enlarged lymph nodes, and a weakened body may be observed. The first thing a doctor should do in this case is identify the infectious pathogen and then prescribe antibiotics or antivirals.
Black earwax
The cause may be mere contamination. However, if you observe this anomaly repeatedly, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible.
The reason could be spores of certain pathogenic molds that color the wax black. Patients with these symptoms suffer from itching in the ear and doctors prescribe antifungal medications.
Gray earwax
It is probably just ordinary dust and occurs especially in people living in big cities.
White earwax
This change indicates a deficiency of certain trace elements in the body such as iron or copper. Doctors most often prescribe a vitamin complex taking all related symptoms into account.
And what color is your earwax? If the color of your earwax is far from its norm, you should visit your doctor.
