为什么我们会有耳垢?

为什么我们会有耳垢?

Earwax — not truly wax, but a greasy buildup called cerumen — is actually a protectant for our ears. It serves a very important purpose: to lubricate and protect the ear from outside intruders, such as dirt and debris, reports WebMD. Without earwax, our ears would not only itch, but our inner ear and our brain would be at risk. Imagine earwax as the castle guards, if you will.

耳垢——不是真正的耳垢，而是一种叫做耳垢的油性物质——实际上是耳朵的保护剂。它有一个非常重要的作用:润滑和保护耳朵免受外部入侵者，如灰尘和碎片，WebMD报道。没有耳垢，我们的耳朵不仅会发痒，而且我们的内耳和大脑也会处于危险之中。如果你愿意，可以把耳垢想象成城堡的守卫。

It's tempting, but a cotton swab is not the safe way to clean your ear. (Photo: eyepark/Shutterstock)

Earwax begins as a mix of secretions from the sweat and sebaceous glands in the walls of the outer ear, according to Harvard Health. When your jaw moves from chewing and talking, those secretions move slowly through the ear canal and out through the ear. Eventually, most of them dry up and flake off.

据《哈佛健康》杂志报道，耳垢是由外耳壁的汗腺和皮脂腺的分泌物混合而成。当你的下颚因为咀嚼和说话而移动时，这些分泌物就会缓慢地通过耳道并从耳朵流出。最终，它们中的大多数会变干并脱落。

Wax can especially build up if you have eczema, which causes dry, flaky skin. If your ears are particularly hairy, the wax can get caught in the hair. Hearing aids and narrow canals can also cause more wax to build up in your ears, says WebMD.

如果你有湿疹，会导致皮肤干燥、剥落，那么蜡就会特别多。如果你的耳朵特别多毛，耳垢会卡在头发里。助听器和狭窄的耳道也会导致更多的耳垢堆积在耳朵里，WebMD说。

You might be tempted to remove earwax if you see it sitting there. But stay away from ear swabs — they can actually pack in the earwax tighter instead of taking it out, or worse, puncture your eardrum. (As any kindergarten teacher will tell you: Don’t stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow.)

如果你看到耳垢还在那里，你可能会想把它清除掉。但要远离耳拭子——它们实际上会把耳垢塞得更紧，而不是取出来，或者更糟糕的是，刺穿你的鼓膜。(任何一位幼儿园老师都会告诉你:不要把比你胳膊肘还小的东西塞进耳朵里。)

Instead, to practice good earwax hygiene at home, clean the skin outside the ear with a damp cloth. Do nothing more.

相反，为了在家里保持良好的耳垢卫生，用湿布清洁耳朵外面的皮肤。其他什么都不做。

When to remove earwax

何时清除耳垢

A doctor will use an otoscope to look into the ear to see if earwax buildup is causing a problem. (Photo: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock)

If you're experiencing symptoms such as an ear infection, hearing loss, feeling as though your ear is plugged up, or even ear pain, you might have excessive earwax buildup. In this case, you can try an over-the-counter earwax removal solution. The Mayo Clinic also suggests putting a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil or hydrogen peroxide into the ear to soften the earwax. After a day or two, use a bulb syringe to gently squirt a little warm water into your ear canal. Then tip your head to the side to let everything drain out.

如果你正在经历一些症状，比如耳朵感染，听力丧失，感觉耳朵好像被堵住了，甚至耳朵疼痛，你可能有过多的耳垢堆积。在这种情况下，你可以尝试非处方耳垢清除解决方案。梅奥诊所还建议在耳朵里滴几滴矿物油、婴儿油或过氧化氢来软化耳垢。一两天之后，用球茎注射器轻轻向耳道里注入一点温水。然后把头歪向一边，让所有的东西都流出来。

If you’ve tried these solutions and are still feeling discomfort, or if you think you may have a more serious buildup, see your doctor. He or she will use a device called an otoscope to look deep inside your ear to see if buildup is blocking your ear canal. Your doctor may use suction or a small plastic spoon called a curette to remove the wax.

如果你已经尝试过这些方法，但仍然感到不舒服，或者你认为你可能有更严重的积聚，去看医生。他或她会使用一种叫做耳镜的设备来检查你的耳朵深处，看看是否有东西堵塞了你的耳道。你的医生可能会用吸盘或者一个叫做刮蜡器的小塑料勺来清除耳垢。

Also know that you're not alone. Excessive earwax sends about 12 million people to see health care workers every year, including 8 million who require earwax removal, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. The problem affects one in 10 children, one in 20 adults, and more than one-third of the elderly.

还要知道你并不孤单。根据美国耳鼻喉-头颈外科基金会的数据，每年大约有1200万人因耳垢过多而去看医护人员，其中有800万人需要清除耳垢。这个问题影响着十分之一的儿童、二十分之一的成年人和三分之一以上的老年人。

Because buildup can cause dizziness or vertigo, this can increase the risk of falling for seniors.

因为积累会导致头晕或眩晕，这会增加老年人摔倒的风险。

“In elderly patients, [earwax buildup is] fairly common,” Dr. Seth Schwartz, a Seattle otolaryngologist, told Kaiser Health News. “It seems like such a basic thing, but it’s one of the most common reasons people present for hearing-related problems.”

“在老年患者中，[耳垢堆积]相当普遍，”西雅图耳鼻喉科医生赛斯·施瓦茨告诉《凯撒健康新闻》。“这似乎是一件很基本的事情，但它是人们出现听力相关问题的最常见原因之一。”