Earwax, medically known as cerumen, is a substance naturally produced by glands in the ear canal. It serves critical functions: Trapping dust, dirt, bacteria, bugs (really!) and other foreign ...

DEAR DOCTOR K: I’ve always used a cotton-tipped swab to clean earwax out of my ears. My husband says this is dangerous. I think it would be more harmful to leave the wax in my ears. Who’s right? DEAR ...

Every day, millions of Americans use cotton swabs to clean their ears. However, cotton swabs can push earwax further into the ear, causing wax blockage in the ear canal. Ear candling or ear coning can ...

Sticking a cotton swab in your ear on the regular may offer what feels like sweet relief from seemingly impacted wax, but experts say the practice isn’t only unnecessary— it’s also risky. “Patients ...

Our bodies produce all kinds of substances, and people have different tolerance levels for them. One that can be really bothersome is earwax. But believe it or not, this substance actually serves a ...

YOU MIGHT HAVE an earache. Things may sound muffled, or your ear might feel full. These are signs you could have earwax buildup. Earwax usually isn’t something to worry about. A certain amount of wax ...

Your ears do more than hear. They help you balance, communicate, and stay connected to the world around you. Otology focuses on your ears, especially the middle and inner ear. Your outer ear is the ...

You know what you can scratch off of your heaping to-do list — forever? Digging deep into your ear with a Q-tip to clean your ears out. Really. The Academy of Otolaryngology just updated their ...