Ear Wax Troubles?

The Warm Air Ear Dryer can change all of that!

Dr. Collins explains Ear “Debris” and the affects the DryEar has on it:

What is ear “debris?”
The debris from the external auditory canal in a normal, disease free ear consists of the following:

1. Ear cerumen (ear wax)
2. Desquamated epidermis (dead skin)
3. Environmental foreign bodies (dirt)
4. Retained moisture (shower water, perspiration, etc.)
   
5. A small number of micro-organisms (bacteria, yeast, and fungus)

Cerumen is a semi-solid proteinaceous material produced by modified sweat glands in the outer 2/3 of the canal that functions to collect external debris, suppress growth of micro-organisms, and provide a barrier to incoming foreign bodies.  Dead skin is a normal product of the ear canal as well as all other parts of the body covered by skin.  Micro-organisms are also a part of the normal physiology of the ear canal.  Disease processes in almost all cases alter the balance between these five materials.

Is ear “debris” problematic for hearing aid users and non-hearing aid users?
Hearing aids, in combination with retained moisture, very often alter one or more of the components mentioned above and cause increased production and/or retention of cerumen.  It’s that cerumen that impedes the expulsion of dead skin and dirt resulting in obstruction.  Combine this accumulation of cerumen, skin and dirt with excess moisture and the micro-organisms begin to proliferate which can result in infection.  For the average person, ear debris is not problematic unless compacted or compressed by the use of Q-tips.  Regarding the hearing aid user, ear debris is a major hindrance for their listening devices.  The obstruction caused by excessive debris is the single greatest impediment for good sound clarity.  Additionally, the maintenance required to remove that debris from their devices, often by professionals, is problematic for various reasons.  The bottom line is that ear debris is a natural process of a healthy ear.  Most individuals regardless of their hearing health are inconvenienced by the debris and would benefit from being able to control its accumulation to some degree.

What does the Warm Air Ear Dryer do to ear debris?
Although clinical studies have not been conducted to determine the affects the ear dryer has on ear debris, we have learned that there are benefits.  Customers have consistently commented that they notice a “reduction in ear wax.”  Of course when they use the term “ear wax” they are unknowingly referring to all of the components that make up ear debris.  The most likely reason that use of the ear dryer results in noticeable reduction of debris is that the reduction of moisture desiccates (dries) the cerumen and the desquamated epidermis (dead skin).  This causes shrinkage of the combined materials and thus less ear debris.  Additionally, the reduced moisture strongly suppresses bacterial growth and the need for excessive cerumen production and destruction of the canal's epidermis.  As indicated previously, reducing the amount of ear debris is very beneficial for hearing aid users and a nice side affect for those individuals that produce an excessive amount of such debris.