All healthy ears produce ear wax, which forms a protective coating around the skin lining the ear canal. The amount of ear wax produced varies from person to person and doesn’t need to be removed unless it is obstructing the ear canal, has caused dulled hearing or caused itchiness or discomfort.

In the UK over 2 million people have problems with ear wax which needs some sort of management and impacted ear wax is one of the commonest problems seen in the GP surgery. The use of ear drops and syringing / irrigating are two of the most frequently used methods of dealing with problem ear wax.

Anyone can suffer from a build up of wax, however, you are more likely to have excess ear wax problems if you:

• Have a high fat diet
• Are older – as ear wax becomes drier and harder with age
• Have narrow or hairy ear canals
• Have tried to remove excess wax using an object like a cotton bud
• Wear a hearing aid or ear plugs – as they may prevent the wax falling out naturally

Men seem to suffer more often than women.

Cerumol Ear Drops have been trusted by millions of ears for over 50 years to help remove ear wax, now traditional Cerumol is joined by new Cerumol Olive Oil Ear Drops offering more choice when dealing with stubborn ear wax.

Cerumol Olive Oil Drops offer a natural way to gently soften and remove ear wax and have no known side effects.

The use of olive oil to soften ear wax before syringing is recommended by many healthcare professionals. Cerumol Olive Oil Drops provide a medicinal grade olive oil in a convenient to use format with a measured dose dropper and detailed instructions for use.

Olive oil is scientifically proven to disperse ear wax and therefore helps its easy removal. The wax either runs out of its own accord or becomes more accessible for professional removal by syringing.

It is usually recommended that 1-2 drops are used twice a day, for up to 7 nights. If the drops are being used prior to an ear syringing appointment, the surgery will advise on the recommended dosing. For those who have regular problems with excessive wax, it may be beneficial to use 1-2 drops of olive oil each week. This will not stop wax collecting, but will make removal easier and encourage the natural movement of wax from the outer ear.

Cerumol Olive Oil ear drops are available from most pharmacies without a prescription, the retail price is around £3-42.