why is ear wax yellow?
Earwax (cerumen) is made by glands in the outer part of the ear canal and helps maintain a healthy ear. The purpose of this sticky substance is to act as a shield to prevent dust, dirt and other substances from entering the ear canal. Earwax also helps maintain the ear canal’s acid balance and protect the ears from infection. Fresh earwax is soft and yellow while older earwax is brown or black, even resembling blood. The wax may also be dry, appearing white and flaky. Every day or two, earwax may be noticeable at the opening of the ear canal. If left alone, the wax will fall out or may be cleaned safely from the outer ear with a soft washcloth. Some people’s ears produce an excessive amount of earwax or do not self clean very well which causes a build-up of earwax. Hearing aid users must be alert to a build-up of earwax, because the earmold of a hearing aid acts like a dam, preventing the wax from moving out of the ear canal. A major cause of hearing aid problems is earwax plugging the
