Like many things in life, earwax is one of those things which varies from person to person and is unique to each individual. The colour of someone’s earwax is determined by different factors including someone’s genetics, as well as the state of their health. However, sometimes you may realise that the colour of your earwax has changed. In most cases, this is not a cause for concern, but usually is down to your wax collecting more or less dirt as it makes its way through the ear canal. So, in the case of dark earwax, what exactly does this mean, and should you do something about it?
Dark earwax, fortunately, is usually not a sign of infection. It can be a normal occurrence for most people. One of the functions of earwax is to collect dust and bacteria, in order to prevent infections from occurring. By logic, the more dirt it picks up, the darker the earwax will become.
You should look out for earwax that is very dark, and maybe even hard because this could be a sign that you have impacted earwax. However, you do not need to worry about this, because our NHS-trained audiologists at Ear Wax Care are here to help you remove earwax which has built up. The most important thing is that you do not attempt to remove the earwax yourself using cotton ear buds or other devices, as this will only worsen the problem. You may also use an at-home treatment such as olive oil to help.
