Earex or Otex?
Firstly what are we talking about here, the answe is ear wax removal. Both Earex and Otex are similar sounding names but not quite the same product. They are both well established and well known ear wax removal brands but we look at why they are slightly different. It is important to be aware that you should only use ear drops if you have no underlying ear problems, a perforated ear drum, an infection in your ears or suffer from dematitis or excezma in your ears. If you are unsure if you or your child should use ear wax removal drops consult a GP.
Dual Action Ear Wax Removal Formula
Both brands have a product that contains a "Dual Action" ear wax removal formula. This means it not only softens the wax using glycerol and urea inside your ear but releases an active substance called Urea Hydroperoxide into your ear that releasing oxygen, which helpt to disperse and break up the wax, having the wax broken up allows for ease of it making it's way out of the ear. It can sometimes be noted to provide a bubbling sensation within your ear as it starts to break down. The use of hydrogen perozide also acts as an anticeptic as well as the urea having the ability to reduce to keratin load within the debris accumulated inside the ear wax. The Earex product is called Earex Advanced Ear Drops. It contains Urea Hydrogen Peroxide 5% and Glycerol BP and comes in a small squeezy bottle of 12ml. This can be can be bought from cosmetic, beauty and phamarcies such as Boots, Superdrug and online via Amazon. The similar product by Otex actually comes in two versions Otex Ear Drops and Otex Express Ear Drops. Similar to the Earex Advance Ear Drops can be bought over the counter or online. However, Otex Ear Drops is only available via a pharmacy due to it whereas Otex Express Ear Drops both consist of urea hydrogen peroxide, 8-hydroxyquinoline and glycerol however the Otex Ear Drops has a higher concetration of Urea Hydrogen Peroxide at 5% w/w and comes in a smaller bottle of 8ml. This is 2ml smaller that Otex's Express Ear Drops and 4ml smaller than Earex's Advance Ear Drops bottle.
Earex's Dual Action Formula Advance Ear Drops is suitable for adults, elderly ears and children over 2 whereas Otex are a little more cautious with their product and state they too are suitale for adults, eldery ears but children over 5 and children between 1-5 would need to have had their ears examined to determine if this is nessesary treatment before use. Earex Dual Action Formula Advanced Ear Drops is a tad more expensive than its the Otex Ear Drops and Otex Express Ear drops.
Products from both Earex and Oteox reduce the need for ear syringing. The instructions for the Earex Advance Ear Drops say "Tilt the head and squeeze 3-6 drops of Earex Advance Ear Drops into the auditory canal, Keep the head tilted and with a tissue or cotton wool, keep Earex Advance Ear Drops in the ear (do not exceed 10 minutes) . Gently remove the liquid, rinsing gently with lukewarm water to remove remaining earwax, Repeat 1-2 times daily for the removal of earwax or once a week to help prevent earwax build up." Earex say that this treatment usually should take between 3-6 days. Whereas Otex are a little more precise and opmtimistic stating their ear drops treatment usually takes 3-4 days. Although instead of applying 3-6 drops, Otex states to drop up to 5 droplets into the ear and leave for a few minutes and whip with a tissue rather than hold for the drops in the ear using a tissue or cotton wool with a maximum time of 10 minutes. For both Otex and Earex it is recommended to repeat the porcess one or twice a day. It is also common to experience a fullness in the ear as if you now have even more wax in your ear once you start using either of these products this is because as the ear wax starts to soften it begins to swell and become large in size, in some cases blocking your ear canal temporarily.
Olive Oil Ear Drops
The use of olive oil drops is that of a natural one, no chemicals, no confusion or nonense just good quality olive oil. A measure recommended by health professionals due to its effective yet more gentle substance, particularly if you have sensitive skin, eczema or psoriasis. Earex terms their olive oil as medicinal grade or EP grade olive oil as noted by Otex. This is also termed as extra virgin olive oil that is much less processed than general olive oil. Both also come in a 10ml bottle. The olive oil works by softening the ear wax, olive oil also has antiseptic properties.
The Earex Olive Oil drops are a little cheaper in price than the Earex Advanced Ear Drops and a more natural method. Such a method allows for use as a preventative method regularly to reduce the build up of hard wax in your ears. Provided in an easy squeeze dropper, the high quality, medicinal grade olive oil gently lubricates, softens and removes earwax. No chemicals made with high quality medicinal grade olive oil (and nothing else), it gently lubricates, softens and removes earwax. Comes in a slightly smaller 10ml bottle.
Both Earex and Otex recommend 2-3 drops of oilve oil are to be dropped into your ear, while avoiding touching the ear with the end of the dropper and leave in the ear for few mintues before wiping the ear with a tissue. The application of dropping the olive oil into the ear differs slightly between Earex and Otex. Earex Olive oil drops uses the whole bottle as the dropper, meaning you need to remove the screw cap and then squeeze the bottle upside down for the olive oil to come out. Otex Ear Olive Oil drops also come in 10ml bottle however also requires a pippette dropper which provides you more control over how many drops you put into your ear and also allows for more precise application of the pipette nozzle to the ear, however you do have to be careful as as you do put it in your ear it doesn't need to go into your ear canal, just at the entrace of the ear canal to direct the olive oil drops in.
For the olive oil drops a recommendation of once or twice a day for up to 14 days is recommended by Otex and twice a day for up to seven days is recommended by Earex.
Sodium Bicarbonate Ear Drops
Sodium Bicarbonate is a chemical composition also known as baking soda, it is known to also soften and remove harderned ear wax. Otex Sodium Bicarbonate Ear Drops are designed in a similar format to the Otex Oilve Oil drops in a 10ml bottle with a pipette dropper. Otex recommend using 3 to 4 drops of these drops in comparison to 2 to 3 drops used in the olive oil drops and the more precise 5 drops recommended for the dual action formula provided by Otex. This may be due to the consistancy of the sodium bicarbonate drops. The liquid is also clear instead of oil like in appearance. If we look at the ingredients of this product it is not just sodium bicarbonate inside the drops but also glycerol, dichlorobenzyl alcohol and purified water. a mixture of ingredients that make the sodium bicarbonate a applyable liquid that is specially formulated to soften and help remove hardened ear wax. Although sodium bicarbonate is a recommended form of ear wax softening and removal it also can make the ear canal dry which is a symptom to be careful of and if you suffer with dry skin or a skin condition using an olive oil based ear drop would be a gentler option for your ears. The use of this product is recommended at twice a day for up to five days, this could be due to the posibility of drying out your ears if using for extended time.