Earwax buildup

[Hombre Secreto]

Originally Posted by ter1413

I know hydrogen peroxide is supposed to be good as well.

Doesn't that **** up your ears more if it's an infection and not just buildup?

 

[ter1413]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Doesn't that **** up your ears more if it's an infection and not just buildup?

i'm sure conne has had stranger things in his ears than wax. how bad can it get!

 

[freeAgent]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Doesn't that **** up your ears more if it's an infection and not just buildup?

Not sure...hydrogen peroxide is a debriding agent, so it will help remove dead tissue and stuff. I doubt it would make an infection worse, but it might cause a lot of pain. I've heard that you're supposed to mix HP with vinegar or water. The stuff you get in the store is already mostly regular water (only something like 2-3% HP). You don't want to use industrial strength HP on your body...

 

[Mauby]

Debrox.

 

[erdawe]

Originally Posted by LawrenceMD

just go to your friendly ENT doc. they'll deploy miniature cave excavation tools to harvest the bounty.
IDK... Sounds pricey consult unless other chronic issue for seeing a specialist or severe buildup, not to mention you may not get in for a while locally (depends location). Seems like asking a derm to freeze you're minor wart. My guess is get a PA or likely even med tech to do it and bill after screen. Not knocking ENT's, they deal with some interesting stuff. Cueing the I'm not a physician line, I've had such things done at a GP doc dig out some nice earwax chunks when I was much younger and had such issues from all sorts otolaryng issues (seemingly made worse from swimming). Didn't mix. Eventually such things subsidized w/ preventative drops and age I guess.

 

[LawrenceMD]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Doesn't that **** up your ears more if it's an infection and not just buildup?
H2O2 will actually kill bacteria, not totally bactericidal but it will kill most of it. The only problem is that that can actually hurt like hell if there is an abrasion and there is water or contaminants in the solution.

Originally Posted by erdawe

IDK... Sounds pricey consult unless other chronic issue for seeing a specialist or severe buildup, not to mention you may not get in for a while locally (depends location). Seems like asking a derm to freeze you're minor wart. My guess is get a PA or likely even med tech to do it and bill after screen. Not knocking ENT's, they deal with some interesting stuff. Cueing the I'm not a physician line, I've had such things done at a GP doc dig out some nice earwax chunks when I was much younger and had such issues from all sorts otolaryng issues (seemingly made worse from swimming). Didn't mix. Eventually such things subsidized w/ preventative drops and age I guess.
a med tech is involved in the collection, analysis, and documentation of body fluids like urine, blood, *****, and feces. They usually aren't involved in the curative procedures. sure a PA (especially someone assisting a ENT) can do the same as doctor and might even be the guy doing the procedures. I've seen super old school barbers actually have "ear cleaning" on their services (they use similar tools). There comes a time when hardened ear wax just needs mechanical removal after the over the counter stuff isn't adequate. If your hearing is diminished then it could be a plethora of problems... from just ear canal obstruction (due to inflamed tissue, ear wax, foreign body, ect), to neural problems (like a tumor right on the VIII nerve, nerve damage, ect). Those are reasons alone to err on the safe side and get it checked out.