What is earwax?

What is earwax?

Earwax, also called cerumen, is made by the body to protect the ears. The ear wax has both lubricating and antibacterial properties. Most of the time, the old earwax is moved through the ear canal by jaw motions like chewing while the skin in your ear grows from the inside out. When it reaches the outside of the ear, it flakes off.

Earwax is produced in the outer part of the ear canal, not deep inside the ear. Earwax is made up of dead skin cells and hair that is combined with the discharge from two different glands.