Why do we have earwax?

Earwax, or cerumen, is made by glands in the outer third of the ear canal and mixes with dead skin cells and hair. It forms a sticky barrier that catches dust and small insects, moisturises the delicate skin and has mild antibacterial properties. The ear is self-cleaning: the skin of the canal slowly migrates outward, and jaw movements from talking and chewing help carry old wax to the opening. Whether your earwax is wet and sticky or dry and flaky is decided largely by a single gene, ABCC11, and the dry type is most common in East Asian populations. Doctors warn against cotton swabs, which tend to push wax deeper and can damage the eardrum.