Question 1

my hair has been thinning for over year, i have bumps/pimples on my scalp. my hair smells funny after i wake up, like earwax or something gross. cause?

Accepted Answer

Could be fungal: I would see a dermatologist, if not available dermatologist see you family physician.  I would recommend a physician not a nurse practitioner in this case.

Question 2

what does it mean when ear canal is itchy and ear wax smells ?

Accepted Answer

Ear canal: The above symptoms may indicate an infection of the exteral auditory canal.  This is best definitively diagnosed by a doctor examining the ear, and is treated with antibiotic ear drops.

Question 3

i was cleaning my sons ear with a scooper with a light. it started to have blood. and his ear wax smells all the time. the doctor said it was normal. what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Wax got flushed out?: One's primary care doctor can recheck to see what is causing the problem. An unusual ear discharge that is not merely oily wax, can be from deeper in the ear, meaning the middle ear space. A discharge can also be from the canal skin (called otitis externa). The treatment may be different depending on where the waxy stuff originates from. Sometimes occasional use of ear drops can help.

Question 4

i was cleaning my sons ear with a scooper with light. i got some ear wax out that smells but it smells all the time, his doc said it was normal. but after i got a ear wax, he got blood in his ear. and he says he cant hear clearly. what should i do?

Accepted Answer

See your doctor: Cleaning the ear canal can be dangerous as it can lead to injury of the ear canal itself or even puncturing the ear drum. This can lead to hearing loss or impairment. It is always best to leave ear wax removal to physicians.

Question 5

why would my earwax smell on the left side?

Accepted Answer

Wax odor: If there is noticeable odor on only one side there could be an infection in the external ear canal. Sometimes it's also characterized by itching or burning. Treatment with a medication like cortisporin otic would cover fungal, bacterial or eczema causes. An examination by a physician or Otolaryngologist would be definitive,however.

Question 6

my earwax stinks like feet. a few days back some water came out of it. i don't have hearing problem. i tried to clean it many times but smell remains.

Accepted Answer

Sounds fungal: Sounds like you got water in it and now fungus is growing.  Try making a solution of 50% warm water and 50% hydrogen peroxide, and use a syringe to carefully fill your ear canal. You will hear bubbling.  Keep your head tilted for a minute or to for it to work, then let it drain out.  Repeat every day and see if it helps.  Drops for swimmer's ear (e.g., auro-dri)  can help, else see an ENT (md).

Question 7

what can i do if there is alot of wax coming out of my 9 month olds ear? wax is almost crusty and has a smell, it is also very hard and dry

Accepted Answer

Ear: There might be and infection of the ear canal. You should have your 9 month old checked.

Question 8

ear feel blocked. fish smell grey discharge on cotton. previous doctor recommended ear wax softening drops and it went away but now is back. discharge was yellow brown before but now is grey watery?

Accepted Answer

Doctor can recheck: One's primary care doctor can recheck to see what is causing the problem. An ear discharge that is not merely oily wax, can be from deeper in the ear, meaning the middle ear space. A discharge can also be from the canal skin (called otitis externa). The treatment may be different depending on where the discharge originates from. With persistent discharge, the doctor might do a culture test.

Question 9

how to remove earwax?

Accepted Answer

Don't: Ear wax or cerumen is modified sweat and is secreted by glands in the ear canal.  The wax is beneficial and is protective.  Wax always migrates from inside to outside and that is why instrumentation will usually push it back into the ear canal and impact it against the ear drum.  If the wax build up causes hearing loss, fullness and pressure, please go to an ENT doc.  In summary do not clean wax.

Question 10

earwax stopped after q-tip cleaning. any danger?

Accepted Answer

Stopped?: Do you mean you have stopped making earwax? Not likely.  We usually don't recommend using q-tips to clean your ears because they can cause problems.  You may have packed the wax deeper into your ear and will need it flushed out.   And please don't use the candle-smoke-gimmick to remove the wax, that is also dangerous.

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Doctor answers about:

Earwax smells

A member asked:

My hair has been thinning for over year, i have bumps/pimples on my scalp. my hair smells funny after i wake up, like earwax or something gross. cause?

A member asked:

What does it mean when ear canal is itchy and ear wax smells ?

A member asked:

I was cleaning my sons ear with a scooper with a light. it started to have blood. and his ear wax smells all the time. the doctor said it was normal. what should i do?

A member asked:

I was cleaning my sons ear with a scooper with light. i got some ear wax out that smells but it smells all the time, his doc said it was normal. but after i got a ear wax, he got blood in his ear. and he says he cant hear clearly. what should i do?

A member asked:

Why would my earwax smell on the left side?

A member asked:

My earwax stinks like feet. a few days back some water came out of it. i don't have hearing problem. i tried to clean it many times but smell remains.

A member asked:

What can i do if there is alot of wax coming out of my 9 month olds ear? wax is almost crusty and has a smell, it is also very hard and dry

A member asked:

Ear feel blocked. fish smell grey discharge on cotton. previous doctor recommended ear wax softening drops and it went away but now is back. discharge was yellow brown before but now is grey watery?

A member asked:

How to remove earwax?

A member asked:

Earwax stopped after q-tip cleaning. any danger?

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