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Earwax normally just falls out on its own. When it's blocking your ears, a pharmacist can help.
Symptoms of earwax build-up include:
Earwax usually falls out on its own. If it does not, and builds up and blocks your ear, you can try to remove it.
To remove earwax build-up:
Over about 2 weeks, lumps of earwax should fall out of your ear and your symptoms should improve.
There's no evidence that ear candles or ear vacuums get rid of earwax.
Do not use your fingers or any objects like cotton buds to remove earwax. This will push it in and make it worse.
Speak to a pharmacist about earwax build-up. They can give advice and suggest treatments.
They might recommend medicines to dissolve the earwax. The earwax should fall out on its own or dissolve after about a week.
Do not use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum (a perforated eardrum).
Not all GP surgeries remove earwax build-up.
Some can:
These treatments are usually painless.
If your GP surgery does not treat earwax build-up, a doctor might be able to refer you to another local NHS service for treatment. Or you might have to pay to have the treatment done privately.
A build-up of earwax can happen if you have:
You cannot prevent earwax. It's there to protect your ears from dirt and germs.
But regularly using eardrops, or olive or almond oil, will help soften earwax build-up. This will help it fall out on its own and should stop your ears getting blocked.
