What is the white thing in my ear?

Cholesteatoma is the name given to a collection of skin cells deep in the ear that form a pearly-white greasy-looking lump deep in the ear, right up in the top of the eardrum (the tympanic membrane).
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What is this white stuff in my ear?

Most often, fluid leaking out of your ear is earwax. Ear drainage can be due to a ruptured eardrum from trauma, foreign objects, or middle ear infection. In this case, you will see a white, slightly bloody, or yellow discharge from the ear. Another common cause is infection or irritation of the external ear canal.
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What is an ear Pearl?

Osteomas are pearl-like bony growths in the external ear canal. These can be small or large, and have a variety of shapes. The larger growths tend to be problematic because they interfere with the natural aeration and drainage of the external ear, at times trapping water or debris in the canal.
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What is the white stuff in an ear infection?

Cloudy fluid or pus draining from the ear canal usually means there's an ear infection. The pus drains because there's a small tear in the eardrum.
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Can earwax be white?

Light brown, orange or yellow earwax is healthy and normal. Children tend to have softer, lighter-colored earwax. White, flaky earwax indicates you lack a body-odor producing chemical. Dark-colored, sticky earwax indicates you should probably use deodorant.
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White Ear Wax Removed Revealing Infected Eardrum - Mr Neel Raithatha (The Hear Clinic)



What color is ear wax?

Earwax can range in color from off-white to black. For most, the earwax you see is an amber orange to light brown and is a wet and sticky consistency. The color of earwax is usually related to its age; the lighter in color the newer the earwax. This is also true with the texture; the dryer the earwax, the older it is.
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Why does my ear smell like fish?

Ear infection

Ear infections usually occur in your middle ear. They can be either bacterial or viral. The infections are most often painful due to inflammation and buildup. An ear infection can cause drainage and you might notice a bad smell.
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Is earwax supposed to smell?

When your earwax smells terrible, pay attention because it most likely indicates a severe infection. Anaerobic bacteria, that means the organism doesn't require oxygen to thrive, tend to emit a foul odor that can make earwax smell bad. A bad smell can also mean an infection is causing middle ear damage.
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Does earwax have a smell?

Earwax with a bad smell means you need to pay attention. The change in odor typically indicates a rather serious infection. Anaerobic bacteria, in other words, bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive, tend to emit a foul odor that will make earwax stink.
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Why is my earwax white and flaky?

Dry cerumen is the most common cause of white earwax, which comes out in flakes. However, in some cases, it can also be a sign of infection or atopic dermatitis (eczema). Consult a doctor if you have white or grey earwax flakes with itchiness, inflammation, and pain.
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Why is my earwax white and wet?

Wet earwax is common among people of most other ethnicities. This is because of a mutation of a gene that aids in making the earwax wet. There are various types of earwax and other ear discharge, so don't panic if you see a range of colors and textures over time.
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How do you clean out ear wax?

Just use a washcloth. You also can try putting a few drops of baby oil, hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or glycerin in your ear to soften the wax. Or you can use an over-the-counter wax removal kit. Besides cotton swabs or any other small or pointy objects, don't use ear candles to clean your ears.
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Why is my earwax red?

If your earwax is red or streaked with red, it means there is blood present. This could be due to a scratch, injury or bug bite in the ear canal. If it's also wet and runny, it likely indicates a ruptured eardrum.
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Why is earwax itchy?

Wax is your body's way of cleaning dead skin cells and dirt out of your ears, but too much of it can make them itch. Don't be tempted to try to remove the buildup with a cotton swab. That pushes the wax deeper inside, where it can get stuck. Instead, try over-the-counter ear drops that break up the wax.
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What does earwax taste like?

Anyone who's accidentally tasted ear wax knows it has an awful, sour flavor. Otolaryngologist Dr. Seth Schwartz told INSIDER that ear wax tends to be acidic. We know acidic foods also taste sour, so ear wax's distinct flavor makes sense.
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Is it good to clean ear wax?

It's unnecessary. The ear is self-cleaning. No routine maintenance is required. If you're inserting swabs into your ears to remove earwax or prevent its buildup, think again.
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Why does my belly button smell?

Summary. When your belly button smells, it is usually because of a hygiene need or infection. The belly button contains several tiny skin folds that can trap sweat, dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Possible infections include candidiasis, bacterial infections, or an infected urachal cyst.
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Does ear wax removal hurt?

It is important to stay still during the procedure to prevent damage to the ear canal. But removing earwax generally doesn't hurt. You won't need anesthesia or pain medicine when the provider removes the earwax. A number of conditions lead to earwax buildup.
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What is ear cheese?

"These cause 'ear cheese,' aka an accumulation of rancid oil—oil that gets exposed to air—dead skin cells, as we're constantly shedding, bacteria, and sweat. It's more common in people who do not change their earrings much and who sweat a lot." (Me.)
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Why is my ear wet when I wake up?

Your ears feel wet because they are making more wax. It really is that simple. Ear wax (properly referred to as cerumen) is a sticky substance that serves as a skin conditioner, dust catcher, insect repellent, and has pretty impressive anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
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Why do my ears leak at night?

People with obstructed sleep apnea stop breathing several times throughout the night, elevating the pressure in their heads each time. Over time this elevated pressure may erode the bone and the spinal fluid can start to leak out of the ear, as happened in Hoffman's case.
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How often should I clean my ears?

How often you clean your ears? Well, ideally never. The ears are self-cleaning and the only time you should ever go near the inside of your ear is if they're itching, blocked or causing you pain, and even then, you need to see an audiologist.
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Why is my earwax hard?

Earwax that picks up a lot of debris or sits in the ear canal for a long time can get hard and dry, so it's more likely to cause a blockage. Conditions that produce a lot of dry, flaking skin, like eczema, can also result in hard earwax.
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Why is my earwax black?

Black earwax may be an indication you have a wax buildup. Your ears may not naturally clean themselves the way they should. Black earwax may also be the result of something you're doing, such as using foreign objects to “clean” your ears.
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What does Blue earwax mean?

Abstract. The "blue ear drum" generally refers to a condition in which blood or blood products are found in the middle ear. After all possible causes for hemotympanum, including blood dyscrasias and trauma are searched for and ruled out, the patient may have chronic serous otitis media accompanied by bloody effusion.
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