[eikenberry]

You had your ear wax checked? I thought I had tinnitus for years, then one time when getting checked on for a nasal infection the nurse commented on how waxy my ear was and asked if I'd like it removed. I thought sure and wow... my tinnitus immediately and completely went away. Just saying, get that checked if you have tinnitus. Turns out ear wax build-up is a major cause of it (it pushes against the ear drums).

[taylortrusty]

This same thing happened to me. Nurse commented on my ear wax and upon removing I felt so much better (and had no more ringing).

[coldtea]

Why the buildup? I've used q-tips every 3-4 days since a child and never had any ear wax buildup problems...

[triceratops]

Q-tips aren't supposed to be used for cleaning wax out of ears. That's not what they're for, and the manufacturer and much of the medical establishment actively advises against it.

[coldtea]

>Q-tips aren't supposed to be used for cleaning wax out of ears.

Well, they've worked just fine for me and millions of others (it's their most popular use). That said, there are indeed accidents from misuse.

Not sure what other people buy them for in the billions and have them at every bathroom. Cleaning vinyl records and nails?

[triceratops]

They're (meant to be) used for applying and removing makeup, taking samples of fluids for medical purposes (e.g. DNA swab), cleaning small items such as jewelry or electronics, applying glue in arts and crafts.[1] Using them for ear cleaning is associated with a number of risks to the ear.[2] But you do you.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_swab#Use

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_swab#Medical_risks

[coldtea]

>They're (meant to be) used for applying and removing makeup

There are specialty items mostly commonly used for the latter (cotton pads), and I'm not sure the reason almost every household has cotton swabs in their bathroom for fringe activities like: "taking samples of fluids for medical purposes (e.g. DNA swab), cleaning small items such as jewelry or electronics, applying glue in arts and crafts".

That leaves "applying makeup" as the other main use.

[Domenic_S]

Some people produce more earwax than others.

[mancerayder]

Is there a home remedy for this, or is this ear wax extraction something only a medical professional can perform?

[hyperdimension]

Sure, hydrogen peroxide poured into your ear will dissolve it, but it might take a few "rinse and repeat" cycles.

[frosted-flakes]

Put a few drops of vegetable oil in your ears every night. After a few days or a week, it works its way out on its own.

At least, that's what my sisters tell me, both of whom get regular build-up of wax in their ears.