Which ear drops should I use?

Which ear drops should I use?

A question that comes up a lot. So here’s a quick overview

Drops for ear wax also known as  ‘cerumenolytics’ are liquids that help soften or dissolve ear wax.  The can be either water based or oil based. They include;

Olive oil

Almond oil

Sodium bicarbonate

Acetic acid

Hydrogen peroxide

Prior to microsuction we generally advise using olive oil – a few drops or spray in each ear for 2-3 days before your appointment.  If you have ear eczema you might find almond oil less irritating.

Oil based cerumemolytics soften the wax and also soften dry skin and help lubricate the lining of the ear canal which helps the ears self cleaning mechanism.

 Although there isn’t a huge amount of clinical data or trails around ear drops a study in 2013 (Saxby et al) which collected ear wax and placed them in test tubes containing different solutions found that the only solution to actually disintegrate wax was distilled water and sodium bicarbonate.

However, generally our ears don’t like to be wet and we always advised trying to keep them dry. Water has a more alkaline pH and therefore make you more prone to developing an infection. Oils are more acidic, like ear wax so generally less likely to cause an infection.

 Remember drops shouldn’t be used if you have a perforation.

Check that the drops you are going to use only contain either medical grade olive oil or almond oil.  Any other additives such as hydrogen peroxide or sodium bicarbonate should be used with caution, check with us or your healthcare provider before using.