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How does water get stuck in an ear? How could earwax possibly prevent water getting stuck? I.e. disallowing entry of water would also mean disallowing air and t

• sacrosancty 4y ago
  It's a water repellant. My guess is that it's hydrophobic and causes the water to bead and roll out instead of smearing over the surface and clinging on.
• jollyllama 4y ago
  Have you ever seen (in real life or a movie or a cartoon) when someone is hitting the side of their head against their hand after being submerged? Or hitting their hand against the side of their head, but this can be harmful. That's a thing people do when they get water stuck in their ear. You can feel it rolling around inside but it doesn't get out no matter how you orient your head. Only force, time, or special ear drops will dislodge it.
  • googlryas 4y ago
    That isn't the question. It's how does earwax stop water from staying in your ear. I suspect it's the opposite. If you have almost no earwax and your ear canal is fully open, water can drain out. But if the canal is say 80% smaller at one point due to wac buildup, then perhaps water can be forced in from pressure and be difficult to drain.