Why is ear wax so stinky?

Question

Also did you all find out the horrors of the never to do again taste of ear wax compared with nose gobs, when you were wee?!!

Answer 1

Actually the odor you find "stinky" is quite a normal odor but you have been conditioned to find such odors offensive. This conditioning drives the deodorant and perfume industries.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is ear wax so stinky?
Also did you all find out the horrors of the never to do again taste of ear wax compared with nose gobs, when you were wee?!!

Answer 3

Sweat glands inside the outer ear canal make it. It oils ear canal tissues and protects the ear drum. Everyone makes ear wax, although some people make more than others.

Earwax is made in the outer ear canal. This is the area between the fleshy part of the ear on the outside of your head (the part you can see) and the middle ear. The skin in the outer ear canal has special glands that produce earwax. The fancy name for this waxy stuff is cerumen (say: suh-roo-mun).

After the wax is produced, it slowly makes its way through the outer ear canal to the opening of the ear. Then it either falls out or is removed when you wash. In most people, the outer ear canal makes earwax all the time, so the canal always has enough wax in it.

So why do we need wax? Earwax has two important jobs. First, it contains special chemicals that fight off infections that could hurt the skin inside the ear canal. Second, it acts as a shield between the outside world and the eardrum. When dust, dirt, and other things enter your ear, the earwax traps them so they can't travel any further.

If you want to get rid of earwax, pay close attention to what to do: nothing! Most kids don't need to do anything special to remove earwax. If you wash your hair regularly, this is enough to keep your ears clean. Don't use a cotton swab, your finger, or anything else to poke around inside your ear to remove earwax. Your ear canal and eardrum are very delicate, and you may hurt them or cause bleeding by trying to get rid of wax this way. Poking around in your ear can also push and pack the wax in further.

In some kids, one or both ear canals make extra earwax. If this sounds like you, tell an adult. Doctors often can prescribe special medicines that are placed in the ear to get rid of extra wax.

Updated and reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: August 2003
Originally reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD, and Neil Izenberg, MD

I've never smelled ear wax, but if it does smell then you may have some sort of infection- go see your doctor.

Answer 4

If the dog isn't scratching them then i would say continue with -___diluted ___peroxide and clean them at least once a week, it could be ear mites which the dog might not notice as much, and you can call a vet and tell them what you have found and possibly get some ear drops that you can just pick up and save the vet office fee,but you will still have to pay for the drops,you might also check the local pet store. But if after all that the problem is still there then you might have to go to the vet.

Answer 5

Wax is a body waste. So some odor is present but should not be so bad that its a horrid smell. Because then its a sign of infection. Heres a site I found for animals and humans about ear wax.

Answer 6

Ear wax is a sticky liquid secreted by cerumen glands. It isn't really wax in the 'candle wax' sense (paraffin). Skin contains many tiny glands whose sole purpose is to secrete a variety of substances. Sebaceous glands, for example, secrete sebum, which gives skin its greasy quality. Sweat is also produced by microscopic glands. Cerumen glands are found only in the skin of the ear canals.
Ear wax, sticky stuff that it is, traps anything foreign that flies, crawls, or is blown into the ear canals. Dirt, tiny bits of plant material, small insects, bacteria, and so forth are immobilized by wax. Think of wax as the sticky stuff on a No Pest Strip. The primary purpose of ear wax is to protect your ear canal and ear drum from such foreign materials.
And eww on tasting it ...um no I didn't.

Answer 7

Earwax aint stinky,well mine aint

Answer 8

I dont know but earwax isnt soposed to stink.

Answer 9

Ear wax makes a good candle and boogers make a good glue.

Answer 10

You missed out pooh poohs