Most people may not notice or think about what is inside their ear canals until there is a problem. Whether their ears are clogged with too much earwax or flooded with water, the pain and discomfort can make anyone scramble for a quick solution. For a lot of people, that solution is Debrox, a brand recommended by doctors and pharmacists alike.
What is earwax?
One of the most common causes of clogged ears is excess cerumen. Cerumen is another word for earwax, which is a slurry of mainly sloughed-off skin cells and oils. Although it does not sound very appealing, earwax does actually help protect the ears. While inside the ear, it is moist enough to act as a lubricant for dryness and sticky enough to trap dirt, debris, and even small insects! It also can contain antimicrobial proteins secreted by your cells to ward off bacterial growth.
Normally, earwax steadily churns its way out of the ear while you talk or chew food since the movement of the jaw helps push it along. As the earwax moves, it dries out, flakes off, and takes away anything it has trapped on the way out. However, if earwax builds up faster than it gets churned out, muffled hearing, and discomfort can occur.
The simplest solution for this problem is to remove it. Q-tips and cotton swabs can push earwax further inside the ear canal, making it harder to remove and/or possibly damaging the eardrum. Ear candles are marketed as tools for wicking earwax towards the flame. However, like Q-Tips and cotton swabs, candles do not safely and effectively remove earwax. Candles for earwax increase the risk of burns due to close proximity with an open flame and hot ash falling into the ear.
How can I remove earwax?
The safest over-the-counter option to rid the ear of excess earwax comes in the form of Debrox Earwax Removal Drops. This product contains the active ingredient carbamide peroxide 6.5%. When introduced into the ear, the mixture begins to fiz and foam, releasing tiny bubbles of oxygen, softening and loosening earwax. Carbamide peroxide also breaks down the keratin chains with its keratolytic properties, making it easier for the foaming bubbles to dislodge stuck earwax. Softened and loosened earwax can be removed passively or by flushing the ear with warm water and a soft rubber bulb syringe.
After speaking with a representative at Prestige Consumer Healthcare, we at VeganMed are glad to say that Debrox products have been verified to not contain any animal-derived ingredients in their formulations!
Typical directions for use are: Place 5 to 10 drops into the affected ear(s) two times a day for up to 4 days, or as directed by a doctor
What is Swimmer's Ear?
The adhesion and surface tension of water can make it hard to drain from the ear. Persistent moisture in the ear can create an ideal breeding ground for unwanted bacteria. Swimmer’s ear is an informal name for “otitis externa”, an infection of the outer ear canal. Symptoms may include ear itching, redness, inflammation, pain, discomfort, and muffled hearing.
How can I remove water in my ears?
Debrox also has a product called Debrox Swimmer’s Ear Drying Drops. These drops are a mixture of isopropyl alcohol 95% stabilized in anhydrous glycerin 5%. When these drops enter the ear and mix with the water present, it allows for rapid moisture evaporation and bacterial growth prevention. Using these drops can help prevent a Swimmer’s Ear infection from occurring.
Glycerin is an ingredient that can be sourced from both animal and plant-derived sources. The glycerin and other ingredients in Debrox Swimmer’s Ear Drops have been verified to not be sourced from animal-based sources.
Typical directions for use are: Place 4 to 5 drops into the affected ear(s)
Listen to your hearing
If your ear problem is not due to earwax or water, these products may not be suitable for you and may require the help of your doctor or other medical professionals. Ask a doctor before use if you have any ear drainage, discharge, dizziness, pain, irritation/rash, an eardrum puncture or other injury, and/or recent ear surgery.
Co-authored by: Patrick Camarador
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Disclaimer: The product and/or medical information provided on VeganMed is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product.
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