Having especially waxy ears can sometimes feel unhygienic, and people may be tempted to dig out what they can, thinking they are doing no harm. However, a doctor has warned that taking matters into your own hands and going the wrong way about it could lead to "permanent ear damage".

We have earwax to protect and clean the ear canal by trapping dirt, dust, and microorganisms. Our ears are constantly performing a natural cleaning cycle, and usually push out wax over time.

Once at the opening of the ear, the wax usually dries, flakes, and falls out, often unnoticed. However, people might want to help that process along at home if they feel like the wax is becoming excessive.

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Dr Suraj Kukadia, who goes by Dr Sooj online, has claimed there are some natural and effective methods that people might want to try before seeing a medic. The NHS doctor said: "As long as you don't go digging in your ear [with] cotton buds, Q tips, ear candles or metal tools. It can make it worse by pushing wax deeper into the canal or by damaging the ear canal itself.

"At home, the safest option is to use things like olive oil or sodium bicarbonate ear drops - and that's only if we are sure that you have excessive earwax. Then, you can use a few drops into the effective ear twice a day for up to 4 weeks.

"This will help to soften the wax, and then hopefully it will just naturally start to come out. But if it's still blocked, [a doctor] can then remove it using gentle irrigation or microsuction - but please don't try a DIY extraction.

Dr Sooj claimed that the human eardrum is "thinner than paper" and a small slip could "damage your eardrum". This could lead to "pain, infection, and even hearing loss, and sometimes the damage can be permanent".

Symptoms of earwax build-up include :

• hearing loss


• earache or a feeling that your ears are blocked


• ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus)


• vertigo (feeling dizzy and sick)

There are several reasons behind earwax build-up, and most cases tend to improve without intervention. Some people may be genetically more prone to wax build-ups, either due to a higher volume of wax itself or having naturally narrower or hairier ear canals that trap more wax than they expel.

Actions like chewing and talking help move the wax along the canal. It is generally best to leave the earwax alone and not attempt to clean the inside of the ear yourself.

According to the NHS website: "You cannot prevent earwax. It's there to protect your ears from dirt and germs. But, regularly using eardrops, or olive or almond oil, will help soften earwax build-up. This will help it fall out on its own and should stop your ears getting blocked."