I feel my ears sticky. What can it be?!
Question: Oh man.. way to easy to insert dirty joke...
Answers: Oh man.. way to easy to insert dirty joke...
This is normal and should be excess wax build-up. The cerumen (wax) build up in our ears is normal. The inside of the outer ear "sweats" like any other part of the body. Also, the cerumen is a protection for the ear drum. The normal movement of your jaw while eating and talking will gradually move this cerumen to the outside where you can safely remove it with a washcloth when you shower or wash your face.
However, some folks make much more ear wax than they need.
Usually, an adult can take a q-tip and gently twirl it inside the ear canal and remove the excess wax. You must never push it too far (it will hurt if you go too far inside) as the possibility of puncturing your ear drum is always present.
In my career of watching doctors to this, I've never known that to happen. Mainly because if you go too far it will hurt before you reach your ear drum!!!
But!! As a nurse, I am never allowed to give you that above advice. As an adult woman with children and grandchildren, I will do so.
Also, you can buy ear cleaning kits in the drug store. It will contain a liquid that you put a few drops into the ear, for a couple days and then an ear syringe to gently wash out the ear with warm water. This is good too, but sloppy.
For "sticky" ears, I like the q-tip process.
Good luck
I am an RN