<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a brown, gray, or yellowish waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and other mammals . It protects the skin of the human ear canal, assists in cleaning and lubrication, and also provides some protection against bacteria, fungi, insects, and water . </P> <P> Earwax consists of shed skin cells, hair, and the secretions of the ceruminous and sebaceous glands of the outside ear canal . Major components of earwax are long chain fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, alcohols, squalene, and cholesterol . Excess or compacted cerumen can press against the eardrum or block the outside ear canal or hearing aids, potentially causing hearing loss . </P> <P> Cerumen is produced in the outer third of the cartilaginous portion of the ear canal . It is a mixture of viscous secretions from sebaceous glands and less - viscous ones from modified apocrine sweat glands . The primary components of earwax are shed layers of skin, with, on average, 60% of the earwax consisting of keratin, 12--20% saturated and unsaturated long - chain fatty acids, alcohols, squalene and 6--9% cholesterol . </P>

Where does wax in your ears come from
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