Quick answer
Most earwax is some shade of yellow, orange or brown, and darker wax is usually just older wax that has picked up dust and dead skin. Whether it is wet and sticky or dry and flaky is down to your genes and is not a sign of poor hygiene. Green, bloody or foul-smelling wax, especially with pain, discharge or a change in hearing, is worth getting checked.
We rarely look at earwax closely, and when we do, it can be a surprise. It might be honey-coloured one day, nearly black on a cotton bud the next, or dry flakes on a pillowcase. Is any of that a problem? Almost always not. Here is a guide to what colours and textures typically mean, and the few that deserve a second look.
What is earwax made of?
Earwax (cerumen) is a mixture of secretions from glands in the ear canal, dead skin cells and small particles such as dust that it catches on the way. It has a job, and we explain it in why do we have earwax. Its colour depends largely on how fresh it is and what it has picked up.
Earwax colours at a glance
This is a general guide, not a diagnosis. Colour on its own rarely tells the whole story.
| Colour | Usually means | Worth checking? |
|---|---|---|
| Pale yellow, golden or orange | Fresh, normal wax | No |
| Light to mid brown | Wax that has been around a little longer | No |
| Dark brown or black | Older wax that has darkened and gathered debris | Only if you also have symptoms, or it is packed in and blocking the ear |
| White, grey or pale and flaky | Often the dry type of wax, or dead skin | Usually not; check if the ear is itchy, sore or scaly |
| Green or yellow-green, especially wet or smelly | Can be a sign of infection | Yes, particularly with pain, discharge or a temperature |
| Red or streaked with blood | Possible scratch or irritation | Yes, particularly if there has been poking or pain |
Why darker wax is not automatically a problem
Wax tends to darken as it ages, a bit like a cut apple going brown. Older wax that has slowly moved toward the opening is often darker than fresh wax deeper in. A dark bit on a tissue or earbud is normal.
It is more of a concern if the ear feels blocked, muffled or uncomfortable. Wax that is dark, packed and symptom-causing is a build-up, and the NHS lists hearing loss, earache, a blocked feeling, ringing and dizziness as signs. Our guide to a blocked ear explains what to try.
Wet vs dry earwax: it is in your genes
If your earwax is honey-coloured and sticky, or pale and flaky, that is largely inherited. A gene called ABCC11 decides which type you have. In a published genetic study, the wet type was found to be dominant over the dry type: you need two copies of the dry variant to have dry wax.
- Wet earwax is yellow to brown, soft and sticky. It is the more common type in people of European and African ancestry.
- Dry earwax is pale grey or tan, and flaky or crumbly. It is more common in people of East Asian ancestry.
Both types do the same job. Neither is cleaner or dirtier. If you have dry wax, you may see flakes on your pillow or earbuds rather than a visible dab at the opening.
When colour is a clue to get help
Be a little wary when a colour change comes with other symptoms. The NHS lists ear pain, a high temperature, discharge running out of the ear, a feeling of pressure and itching or scaly skin around the ear as symptoms of an ear infection. If you notice:
- Green or foul-smelling discharge, or fluid running from the ear.
- Blood in the wax or on a tissue.
- Ear pain that is getting worse, or a high temperature.
- A sudden change in hearing, or dizziness.
Speak to a pharmacist or GP, and do not try to clean the ear yourself in the meantime. The NHS says that if you have earache you should not put anything inside your ear, such as cotton buds, or try to remove earwax.
What to do about wax you can see
The good news is that most wax at the opening of the ear is normal and easy to deal with. Wipe it away with a damp flannel, or lift it with a soft tool made for the outer ear, such as the Meravie Sticky Ear Cleaner. Its silicone tip has a tacky surface, so you can see what it has picked up, and that gives you a good look at the colour without going anywhere near the canal.
Safety first
The Meravie Sticky Ear Cleaner is for adults, and for children with adult supervision, on visible wax on the outer ear only. Do not use it if you have ear pain, discharge, a perforated eardrum, ear tubes or a history of ear surgery.
Should you worry about wax that looks different?
Try not to obsess. Wax colour shifts with age, the environment and how long the wax has been in the ear. What matters is how your ears feel: comfortable and hearing normally, or blocked, painful or leaking. If you are not sure, a quick chat with a pharmacist is easy and free. And if your ears feel fine, you do not need to clean them at all.
Frequently asked questions
What colour should earwax be?
Most healthy earwax is pale yellow to orange or brown. It can look darker when it is older and has collected dust and dead skin.
What does black earwax mean?
Usually it is older wax that has darkened over time. If it comes with a blocked feeling, hearing loss, pain or dizziness, get it checked.
What does green earwax mean?
Green or yellow-green wax, especially if it is runny, smelly or comes with pain, can signal an infection. Speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Why is my earwax wet and sticky?
Because of your genes. The wet type is dominant, so people with at least one copy of the wet variant of the ABCC11 gene have wet wax. It is completely normal.
Why is my earwax dry and flaky?
You have the dry type, which requires two copies of the dry variant of the gene. It is normal and not a sign of poor hygiene.
The Meravie Sticky Ear Cleaner is a consumer ear-care product for adults, and for children with adult supervision, made for visible wax on the outer ear only. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose or treat impacted earwax, ear infections or hearing loss. If you have ear pain, discharge, sudden hearing loss, dizziness, a perforated eardrum, grommets or have had ear surgery, speak to your GP, pharmacist or audiologist.