Both oily and dry ears are the two normal forms of external earwax in humans. Most people have predominantly dry ears, with oily ears accounting for only about ten percent. Many people with oily ears are prone to cerumen embolism or recurring ear canal inflammation due to frequent digging of the external ear canal, so many people feel that oily ears are bad. However, oily ears are actually more protective of the outer ear canal and the eardrum, such as dust, small bugs, and trauma, and oily ears have a very strong protective effect, but because the adhesion is so strong it is easy to stick the dirty things, so the chance of cerumen embolism is higher.