YOUR AMAZING BODY

EAR wax isn’t wax at all, but is mostly sweat and dead skin.

Liquid released by apocrine sweat glands in the outer part of the ear canal mixes with dead skin cells, hair and an oily substance on the skin called sebum to form the wax-like substance.

This traps foreign particles such as dust and dirt and stops them getting deep into the ear where they might cause infection.

The sweat also helps to lubricate the ear canal.

Research shows people who have a lot of wet, rather than dry, ear wax are also much more likely to sweat a lot.