Blocked Ears This Summer? When Ear Wax Removal May Help After Swimming, Flying or Using Earbuds

Blocked Ears This Summer? When Ear Wax Removal May Help After Swimming, Flying or Using Earbuds

A blocked ear can be especially frustrating during summer. You may notice muffled hearing after swimming, a feeling of pressure during or after a flight, or discomfort after wearing earbuds for long periods. In some cases, ear wax is the cause and professional ear wax removal may help restore comfort and clearer hearing.

However, not every blocked ear is caused by wax. Water trapped in the ear canal, changes in air pressure, an ear infection or irritation to the skin of the ear canal can create similar symptoms. Understanding the likely cause can help you decide whether ear wax removal is appropriate and when you should seek medical advice instead.

What Ear Wax Does and Why It Can Build Up

Ear wax, also called cerumen, is a normal and useful substance. It helps protect the skin of the ear canal, traps dust and debris, and can reduce the effect of water and irritants entering the ear. Usually, wax gradually moves out of the ear naturally as the jaw moves when you talk or chew.

Sometimes this natural clearing process does not work as well. Wax can become dry, compacted or pushed further into the ear canal, leading to a blockage. This is more likely for some people, including those with narrow or hairy ear canals, those who use hearing aids or earplugs, and people who regularly put objects into their ears.

Common signs of a wax blockage include:

• Muffled hearing or a sensation that sounds are distant
• A feeling of fullness or blockage in the ear
• Ringing or buzzing sounds in the ear
• Mild earache or discomfort
• Difficulty hearing conversations, television or phone calls
• Occasional dizziness or imbalance

These symptoms can have other causes, so it is important not to assume that every blocked ear needs wax removal.

Blocked Ears After Swimming

Swimming can make an existing wax problem more noticeable. Wax can absorb water and expand slightly, which may increase the feeling of blockage or reduce hearing temporarily. Water can also become trapped behind or around wax in the ear canal.

If your ear simply feels muffled after swimming but you have no pain, discharge, swelling or fever, wax may be contributing. In this situation, a professional ear assessment can help establish whether wax is present and whether removal is suitable.

It is also possible for swimming to cause irritation or an outer ear infection, often called swimmer’s ear. This affects the skin of the ear canal and may cause pain, itching, tenderness when touching the outer ear, redness, discharge or a feeling of swelling. Ear wax removal may not be appropriate if an infection is suspected, and you may need assessment by a GP, urgent care service or another appropriate clinician.

After swimming, avoid inserting cotton buds, fingers or tissues into the ear. These can push wax further in, scratch the ear canal or trap moisture. Gently drying the outside of the ear with a towel is usually sufficient.

Ear Pressure and Blockage After Flying

Flying can cause a different type of blocked-ear sensation. During take-off and landing, air pressure changes around the eardrum. The Eustachian tubes, which connect the middle ear to the back of the nose, normally help equalise this pressure. If they do not open easily, the ears can feel full, pressurised or temporarily muffled.

This is particularly common if you are flying with a cold, hay fever symptoms or nasal congestion. Swallowing, yawning, chewing gum or sipping water during descent may help some people equalise pressure.

Wax does not usually cause pressure changes from flying, but an existing wax blockage can make the ear feel more uncomfortable or make hearing seem more reduced. If the blocked feeling persists after your journey, especially if it is accompanied by muffled hearing and no cold symptoms, an ear wax assessment may be useful.

Seek medical advice if you experience severe ear pain during or after a flight, bleeding, discharge, significant dizziness, sudden hearing loss or symptoms that do not improve. These may not be due to wax.

Can Earbuds Make Wax Worse?

Earbuds, in-ear headphones, earplugs and hearing aids can all affect the way wax leaves the ear. They may reduce airflow in the ear canal and can press wax further in, particularly if worn for long periods or inserted deeply. This does not mean that everyone who uses earbuds will develop wax blockage, but regular users may be more likely to notice it.

If you use earbuds often, try to keep them clean and avoid pushing them deeply into the ear canal. Take breaks where practical, especially if your ears feel hot, itchy or uncomfortable. Never use earbuds, cotton buds or other objects to try to dig wax out. This commonly makes the problem worse.

When Professional Ear Wax Removal May Help

Professional ear wax removal may be helpful when a wax blockage is causing symptoms and the wax is visible or confirmed during an ear examination. A trained clinician can assess the ear canal and eardrum, consider your symptoms and advise whether removal is appropriate.

Before an appointment, you may be advised to use ear wax softening drops for a short period. These can help soften wax and may make removal easier. However, drops are not suitable for everyone. Do not use them without advice if you have a perforated eardrum, grommets, ear surgery in the past, ear discharge, suspected infection, severe pain or an allergy to the ingredients.

At a professional appointment, the most suitable method will depend on the wax, your ear health and the service available. It is important that ear wax removal is carried out only after checking that it is safe to proceed.

What Not to Do for a Blocked Ear

• Do not use cotton buds, hairpins, keys or any other object to remove wax.
• Do not use ear candles. They are not an effective way to remove wax and can cause burns, wax drips and injury.
• Do not keep using drops if they cause significant pain, irritation, rash or worsening symptoms.
• Do not assume persistent hearing loss is wax without having the ear checked.
• Do not attempt to flush your own ear if you have had ear surgery, have grommets, a known eardrum perforation or signs of infection.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Advice

Contact a GP, NHS 111, urgent care service or emergency service as appropriate if you have sudden hearing loss, severe or worsening ear pain, swelling around the ear, bleeding, pus-like discharge, fever, severe dizziness, facial weakness or a head injury. You should also seek advice if you think there may be an object stuck in the ear.

If you have diabetes, a weakened immune system or a history of ear surgery, it is sensible to seek clinical advice promptly for new ear pain, discharge or suspected infection.

Book an Ear Wax Removal Appointment

If summer swimming, flights or regular earbud use have left you with a persistent blocked-ear feeling, a professional ear assessment can help identify whether wax is the likely cause. Our Ear Wax Removal service offers a careful, convenient way to check your ears and discuss the next appropriate step.

Book your Ear Wax Removal service with Unicare Pharmacy today.