It can sometimes itch a bit. Sometimes you have a lot of it. And a lot of people don't take it off anymore, because that wouldn't be good for your ears. We are talking about earwax. What exactly is it?
Just sit down for a while. Because just as much as pooping is an awkward topic, we sometimes have a hard time with things like sweat, love handles and earwax. We will examine the latter. What is it, why is it there and do we really need it?
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Well great. That is the cocktail that together form earwax. It is made by between 1000 and 2000 (!) glands and you can have either wet or dry earwax. Most white Dutch people have wet earwax.
While we're at it:the longer the earwax stays on, the older it gets and then it also changes in color and texture. It starts off smooth (sorry) and golden yellow. Then becomes sticky brown. And in the last phase it turns even darker – towards black – and becomes grainy.
Of course, earwax would be a strange substance if it served no purpose. So it really does. Its main functions are to protect the ear from moisture and from drying out. It also catches dust and dirt. And builds up the immune system against pathogens.
Any excess earwax is automatically cleaned up by your body. Funnily enough, your jaw also contributes to the expulsion of earwax:when you talk or chew the earwax is pushed out by itself. Who knew † Cleaning or removing the earwax is not necessary. If you can't resist, stick to these tips:only remove earwax that is visible in the opening of your ear canal. And:make sure the cotton part of your cotton swab remains visible, so you don't poke too deeply in your ear.
