Things You Probably Didn't Know About Earwax

huffingtonpost.com We know you probably don't want to give much thought to earwax whatsoever, but truth is, the gunk can actually tell you a fair amount about yourself -- and not just in a personal hygiene kind of way. While there's a lot even the pros don't know about earwax -- like it's exact purpose, for example -- there are some theories and little-known factoids worth acknowledging, for your health's sake... Earwax keeps your ears from itching. One of the practical sides of earwax is that it seems to lubricate the ears, according to Penn Medicine, the way that tears lubricate the eyes. The wax may keep ears from feeling dry or itchy... It also keeps them (relatively) clean. That waxy buildup is a... combo of those lubricating secretions, sloughed skin cells and dirt and dust trapped there while trying to enter your ear. But believe it or not, for the most part it will clean itself out. Every movement of the lower jaw, whether it's talking or chewing, pushes the wax toward the outside world -- no cotton swab required. In fact, trying to clean earwax can do more harm than good, if wax is pushed further into the ear canal rather than extracted. Most experts agree you should leave your earwax alone, unless you're experiencing symptoms of too much earwax, which can include hearing changes, LiveScience reported... Ear candles are a big no-no. ... let's also banish the idea thatburning a candle in the ear will effectively and safely remove excess earwax. The FDA warns that not only can ear candles lead to burns, they may also block the ear canal or perforate the eardrum. to read more: huffingtonpost.com