The human body never ceases to amaze us with its functioning. It is in fact able to send signals to alert us of a condition or problem through the various organs and areas that compose it. Furthermore, did you know that our ears can tell us a lot about our health?

In fact, in addition to the hearing function, the ears, like any other part of the human body, also need to be monitored to take care of our health. In fact, one of the main indicators is earwax. It is a wax composed of fatty substances, amino acids and minerals that protects the external auditory canal. Earwax has a very specific function: it helps to counteract the penetration of pathogens and germs.

So when the consistency, color, and appearance of earwax changes, it is a sign of a health problem, because the protective barrier of earwax has been compromised. To better understand how it works, here are 8 changes in earwax and what they mean:

Gray earwax

If you notice gray earwax on your cotton swab, there are two possible explanations. It could be the surrounding dust caused by pollution, especially in big cities, or genetics. In fact, according to the Hearing Guide by Bruno Frachet and Émilie Vormés, earwax is genetically determined. For example, Asians and Native Americans have gray, dry earwax, while Caucasians and Africans have moist, honey-brown earwax.
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