Earwax – Do You Really Need to Clean It?

Q: How do I get rid of earwax?

A: First, it helps to know that earwax is totally normal. It’s made from old skin cells and natural proteins in the ear canal. Some people have dry earwax (most Koreans do), and others have wet earwax (more common in non-Asians).

A lot of people think earwax is dirty, so they try to clean it out with cotton swabs. But earwax actually protects your ears! It has natural oils that keep moisture out and even has mild antibacterial properties to keep your ear canal healthy.

Here’s something many people don’t realize:
Your ears clean themselves.
Everyday movements like chewing help push old earwax out naturally. So in most cases, you don't need to clean inside your ears at all.

The real problem happens when people try to clean too deeply. Cotton swabs, hairpins, or toothpicks can irritate the ear canal and often push the wax further inside, causing a blockage. In some cases, you can even scratch or injure the eardrum if you go too far — so it’s important to be careful.

If your ear feels blocked, your hearing drops suddenly, or the wax is really hard, a couple drops of mineral oil may help soften it. But because this doesn’t work for everyone — and sometimes makes things worse — it’s best to check with your doctor or a hearing professional first.

Your ears usually know how to take care of themselves. When in doubt, let a professional help!

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