Treatment options

A range of products are available from the pharmacy to help treat common ear problems.

Earwax build-up can be treated with OTC products that soften or break up the wax and encourage it to fall out naturally. These include ingredients such as olive oil (e.g. Cerumol Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ear Drops, Cl-ear Olive Oil Ear Drops, Otex Olive Oil Ear Spray) or docusate sodium (Waxsol).

Urea hydrogen peroxide is used in some products (e.g. Cl-ear Express Ear Drops, Earex Advance Ear Drops, Otex Express Ear Drops) to break earwax down. These products may cause a temporary bubbling sensation in the ear, but this is to be expected and is nothing to worry about. 

When recommending ear drops, it may be helpful to advise the customer how to use them effectively: 

• Warm the bottle in the hands for a few minutes before use
• Tilt the head to one side, with the ear pointing towards the ceiling
• Gently squeeze the required number of drops into the ear, without the dropper touching the ear canal
• Keep the head tilted for a few minutes so the drops stay in the ear
• Remove any excess with a tissue. 

Pharmacy-based earwax removal services are becoming increasingly popular. These involve an ear examination and removal of wax using a microsuction device or irrigation.

Otitis externa (swimmers’ ear) can be treated with an OTC product containing acetic acid (EarCalm) or acetic acid plus aluminium acetate (Otinova). These can help to relieve itching and treat ear canal inflammation.

Important note: Anyone with a perforated eardrum should not use ear drops or sprays.