Ear wax (cerumen) comes from special glands in the skin of your outer ear canal, where their oily secretions mix with dead skin cells to form the waxy material you see.

Quick Scoop: What ear wax actually is

Think of the ear canal as a tiny self-cleaning tunnel lined with skin and microscopic factories (glands).

These factories make the base ingredients of ear wax, which then gets pushed slowly outward as the skin in the canal renews itself.

Where does ear wax come from?

  • It is produced in the outer third of the ear canal, not deep next to the eardrum.
  • Two main gland types are involved:
    • Sebaceous glands (oil glands) that make sebum, an oily fat-rich substance.
* Ceruminous glands, a type of modified sweat gland that secretes cerumen.
  • As these secretions ooze onto the skin, they mix with:
    • Dead, shed skin cells from the ear canal lining (which make up much of the bulk).
* Tiny hairs and microscopic debris like dust.

A simple way to picture it: the glands provide the “glue” (oils and wax), and the constantly shedding skin provides the “filler,” and together they become ear wax.

What is ear wax made of?

Chemically, ear wax is a mix of fats, skin, and other organic material.

  • Around 60% keratin from dead skin cells.
  • About 12–20% long-chain fatty acids, alcohols, and squalene (oily, water-repelling lipids).
  • 6–9% cholesterol.
  • Small amounts of hair, environmental particles, and trace minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc.

This composition is why ear wax feels greasy or sticky and can look flaky or moist depending on your type.

Why does our body make it?

Ear wax is not “dirt”; it is a built-in protection system.

  • It traps dust, small particles, and microbes before they can reach and irritate the eardrum.
  • Its oily texture repels water , helping prevent moisture buildup that can lead to infections like swimmer’s ear.
  • It creates a slightly acidic environment that makes it harder for bacteria and fungi to grow.
  • It also lubricates the ear canal so the skin inside does not crack, itch, or feel too dry.

An everyday example: someone who swims a lot benefits from wax’s water- repellent and antimicrobial properties, which reduce the chance of painful outer ear infections.

Why is some ear wax wet and some dry?

There is even a genetics twist, which is why “where does ear wax come from” shows up in forum and “explain like I’m five” discussions.

  • The ABCC11 gene influences whether your ear wax is wet (sticky, yellow-brown) or dry (light, flaky).
  • Dry ear wax is more common in many East Asian and some Indigenous populations, while wet ear wax is more common among people with African or European ancestry and many other groups.
  • This has been used in research on ancient human migration patterns because different populations have different frequencies of the gene variant.

So even though everyone’s ear wax comes from the same basic glands in the outer ear canal, how it looks and feels is partly coded in your DNA.

A quick mini “forum-style” recap

“Where does ear wax come from?”
It’s not random gunk; it’s factory-made in your outer ear canal by oil and sweat-like glands, then mixed with dead skin as your ear cleans itself.

Key points:

  1. Production site: outer third of the ear canal.
  1. Source: secretions from sebaceous and ceruminous glands plus shed skin cells and tiny debris.
  1. Purpose: protect, clean, lubricate, and defend against infection.
  1. Variation: wet vs dry types and amount influenced by genetics and environment.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.