Medically reviewed by Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket. Last reviewed: September 2026.
Swimming and diving in Phuket often turn a small amount of wax into a blocked, muffled ear, and I see this regularly in divers and snorkellers. Before removing wax, I always check the eardrum, because some problems that feel like wax are actually an infection or a perforation.
Blocked ears are a classic Phuket holiday complaint, and the timing usually gives it away: the ear was fine until a swim, a dive or a long shower, and then everything sounded muffled. Wax that has sat quietly for months absorbs water, swells and seals the ear canal. The same water can also start swimmer’s ear, and divers can injure the ear through pressure changes, so not every blocked ear is wax. That is why we always look before we clear anything.
Why ear wax builds up
Ear wax, or cerumen, is a mix of oils, sweat and dead skin that protects the ear canal and traps dust. Normally the canal cleans itself: skin slowly migrates outward, carrying old wax with it, helped by jaw movement when you talk and chew. Problems start when that conveyor belt is interrupted. Cotton buds push wax back towards the eardrum and pack it tight. Earplugs, in-ear headphones and hearing aids block the exit. Some people naturally produce harder or more abundant wax, or have narrow or hairy canals, and wax tends to become drier with age. The result is impaction, a plug that fills the canal.
Is it wax, or something else?
Wax causes muffled hearing, a feeling of fullness, and sometimes ringing, itching or mild dizziness, usually without much pain or fever. Several other ear problems common in Phuket feel similar at first, and they need different treatment.
| Problem | Typical clues | What usually helps |
|---|---|---|
| Wax blockage | Muffled hearing after water gets in, little pain, no fever | Softening drops, then irrigation or manual removal |
| Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) | Itch turning to pain, worse when the ear is pulled, discharge, swollen canal | Antibiotic and steroid ear drops, keeping the ear dry; no irrigation |
| Middle ear infection | Deep pain, often fever, often after a cold | Pain relief, sometimes antibiotics |
| Ear barotrauma | Pain and fullness after diving or a flight landing, sometimes a little blood | Time, decongestants, no diving until healed |
| Sudden sensorineural hearing loss | Hearing drops suddenly in one ear, often with ringing, no wax seen | Urgent same-day specialist assessment |
How we remove ear wax
Looking first
The doctor examines both ears with an otoscope, a small lit magnifier. This confirms whether wax is the cause, how hard and how deep it is, and whether the canal skin is inflamed. We ask whether you have ever had a perforated eardrum, ear surgery or grommets (tiny ventilation tubes), because those change which method is safe.
Softening drops
Hard wax often needs softening first. Olive oil or sodium bicarbonate ear drops, used two or three times a day for three to five days, make the plug easier to shift, and sometimes clear it completely on their own. If your flight is soon, the doctor may try removal the same day and suggest drops only if the wax will not budge.
Irrigation
Ear irrigation uses a controlled electronic pump to direct a gentle stream of water at body temperature along the wall of the canal, so that it flows behind the plug and flushes it out. Water that is too cold or too warm can trigger brief dizziness, which is why the temperature matters. Irrigation is not used if the eardrum may be perforated, if you have grommets or have had ear surgery, or if swimmer’s ear is present.
Manual removal and referral
Soft wax near the entrance can be lifted out under direct vision with a fine curette or small forceps. If irrigation is unsuitable and the wax is deep, or if there is an unusual finding, we refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who may use microsuction, a tiny vacuum under a microscope.
Safe self-care while you wait
If you cannot get to us straight away, two or three drops of plain olive oil, warmed to body temperature, with your head tilted and the ear facing up for a few minutes, can start softening the wax. Do not use drops if you have ear pain with discharge, a fever, or a history of a perforated eardrum. Avoid cotton buds, hairpins and keys, and do not use ear candles: they do not remove wax and can burn the ear and face. Keep water out of the ear by placing a cotton ball smeared with petroleum jelly in the entrance when you shower.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if your hearing has not improved after a few days of drops, if the ear becomes painful, swollen or starts to discharge, or if you have a fever. Divers with ear pain, a feeling of fullness or dizziness after a dive should stop diving until their ears have been checked. Treat a sudden loss of hearing in one ear, with no obvious wax or infection, as urgent: steroid treatment works best when started within days, so ask for same-day assessment. Call 1669 or go to a hospital emergency department for severe dizziness with vomiting and inability to walk, weakness of one side of the face, or ear pain with a high fever, a severe headache and a stiff neck.
Prevention and early detection
The best prevention is to leave the ear canal alone and clean only the outer ear with a cloth. After swimming, tilt your head to let water drain, dry the outer ear with a towel and, if needed, use a hair dryer on a low, cool setting held well away from the ear. Swimmers and divers who keep getting blocked ears can use well-fitted swimming earplugs, and people prone to wax build-up may benefit from a few olive oil drops once a week. If you are about to start a dive course and have had wax problems before, have your ears checked first, because impacted wax hides the eardrum from view.
Unblocking your ears at Takecare Clinic
We are open 24 hours a day at the Bangtao (Cherngtalay) clinic, the Kata-Karon clinic and the Patong clinic. Most people simply turn up and see a walk-in doctor in Phuket, and you can also ask us a question on WhatsApp or call +66 81 718 9080. If ear pain or dizziness keeps you in your room, a doctor hotel visit in Phuket can assess the ear and start treatment, while irrigation itself is usually done at the clinic. When the visit is covered, we can bill most travel insurers directly, and itemised invoices are provided for any claim you make yourself.
Related services and treatments
If your ear turns out to be infected rather than blocked, our page on ear infection treatment explains the next steps. The same treatment rooms are used for wound care in Phuket, stitches removal and minor surgery in Phuket, and if your trip has included a fall on the road, see motorbike accident care. You can browse all our medical services as well.
Summary
Ear wax is protective and normally clears itself, but water, cotton buds and earplugs can turn it into a plug that muffles hearing, often right after a swim. A doctor should look in the ear first, because swimmer’s ear, diving injuries and sudden hearing loss can feel similar and need different care. Removal with softening drops, irrigation or fine instruments is quick and usually painless. The practical takeaway: put the cotton buds away, dry your ears after swimming, and get a blocked ear checked before your next dive or flight.
“Please avoid cotton buds, which push wax deeper. Softening drops for a few days before your visit make removal quicker and more comfortable.”
Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan, Physician, Takecare Clinic Phuket
Frequently asked questions
Does ear wax removal hurt?
Usually not. Irrigation feels like warm water trickling in the ear, and manual removal is more of a tickle than pain. If the canal is already inflamed, it can be tender, in which case we may treat the inflammation first. Brief dizziness sometimes happens during irrigation and settles within a minute or so.
Can I swim or dive after having my ears cleared?
If the canal and eardrum look healthy, swimming is usually fine from the next day. If we find swimmer’s ear, keep the ear dry until it has settled. Divers should wait until equalising feels normal and any pressure injury has healed. The doctor tells you what applies in your case.
Why shouldn’t I just use cotton buds or ear candles?
Cotton buds push wax deeper and pack it against the eardrum, and they can scratch the canal or damage the eardrum itself. Ear candles have no proven benefit, cannot create enough suction to draw wax out, and can cause burns or leave candle wax inside the ear.
Do I need to book an appointment?
No. Walk into any of our three clinics at any hour, and a doctor usually sees you within minutes. Most ear wax visits take under 30 minutes. If the wax is very hard, you may be asked to use softening drops for a few days and come back.
Can a doctor treat my blocked ear at my hotel?
A doctor can visit your hotel or villa anywhere in Phuket, 24/7, examine the ear, start drops and treat an infection. Irrigation is usually easier and cleaner at the clinic, so the doctor may suggest a short clinic visit for the removal itself once the wax has softened.
Will my travel insurance pay for ear wax removal?
Routine wax removal is often not covered, although treatment for an ear infection or an ear injury after diving may be. It depends on your policy, so check the wording. We confirm the price on WhatsApp before your visit and provide itemised receipts if you want to claim.
Sources
The NHS explains symptoms, self-care and treatment for earwax build-up, and its page on ear infections helps tell the two apart. Clinicians follow the NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary on earwax, which covers softening drops, irrigation and when not to irrigate.
ear wax removal, earwax, cerumen, impacted ear wax, blocked ears, ear irrigation, microsuction, otoscope, olive oil ear drops, sodium bicarbonate ear drops, swimmer’s ear, otitis externa, otitis media, ear barotrauma, perforated eardrum, grommets, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, NICE, ENT specialist, 1669, Bangtao, Kata, Karon, Patong, Takecare Clinic Phuket, Dr. Ponlawat Pitsuwan
This page is general health information and not a substitute for a medical consultation.