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The basics of hygiene lie in regularly washing the whole body, cleaning your teeth, but also your ears. Although ear cleanliness is important, many people do not know that earwax has an important protective function and can also serve as an indicator of health. It should be removed regularly, but there is no need to pick radically at your ears.
Clean your ears the right way and prevent injury
Doctors do not recommend cleaning ears with cotton-tipped swabs. They do remove wax, but it can easily damage the ear or push the wax back into the inner ear. It is recommended to rather use a special cleaning spray and a towel, or to wipe the ear occasionally with a tissue or handkerchief. Earwax can change color over time. Based on that, the health of your ears and, by extension, your whole body can be determined.
What does the color of your earwax say about you?
If earwax is gray and you do not experience any symptoms, then there is nothing to worry about. Gray discoloration is usually caused by dust. This is very common among residents of busy cities. Dark brown earwax indicates that you are going through a very stressful period. If you notice black earwax and your ears often itch, then you should visit your doctor, because you could be suffering from a fungal infection. If your earwax is white, you suffer from a deficiency of vitamins, especially iron and copper.
Besides a change in color, you may also observe other signs that your ears are not okay:
- If your earwax smells unpleasant, it means you have an ear infection. In combination with this problem you may also hear cracking in your ears. Do not attempt self-treatment; rather visit a doctor immediately.
- If you notice a change in the consistency of earwax, it may be a sign of a new inflammation.
- Dry earwax means a lack of fats in the diet, or it may be a skin infection that causes the inner skin to dry out.
If you notice blood after cleaning your ears, you may have a perforated eardrum. In most cases it will heal on its own, but the ear is prone to infection.
