Attempting to clean regularly
Most people actuallyneverneed to clean their ears. “Ears are self-cleaning,” Dr. Chernobilsky explains. “It is the only part of the body in which the skin grows in a direction, and brings the waxand skin debris out from the canal to the outer ear.” (When you move your jaw and chew, you’reassisting this process.) Some people have moreearwax than others, but in general, the ears make the amount of wax they by need. The yellow-orange substance—technically known as cerumen—protects the skin in the ear canal by lubricating it and preventing it from filling up with water.“It’s a natural skin lotion,” Dr. Chernobilsky says. “Cerumen also has properties which kill certain types of bacteria and prevent the growth of fungus.” So instead of digging for treasure in your ear canals, wait for the wax to loosen on itsown and reach the outer ear. Then gently brush it out with a wash cloth.Inserting cotton swabsCotton swabs are bathroom staples, but they’re not meant for use in the ears. It even says so onmost packaging. The rigid, pointy shape can damage the skin, eardrum, and ossicles. Swabs can also push the wax in deeper and cause impaction, Dr. Chernobilsky says. One more unpleasant possibility: the cotton head can pop off in your ear canal. If that happens, you need to see a doc to have it removed.
Inserting any pointy objects
“People will stick just about anything they can think of into their ears when they feel discomfort—their long finger nails, bobby pins, sewing needles, keys, to name a few.” Anything sharp or shaped similarly to a cotton swab will pose the same risks of cutting the skin and damaging the inner and outer ear.
Candling
This practice involves placing a hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear. The heat of the flame supposedly creates a vacuum effect, drawing wax to the candle. While some folks have anecdotal tales of success with candling,research has shown it’s bunk, and Dr. Chernobilsky considers it extremely dangerous: “I have seen eardrum perforations and burns from people’s hair catching on fire.” Yep, we’ll pass!
Rinsing with a syringe
“While this method is generally safe if done right, you are doing it blindly, and you can get a swimmer’s ear if the ear isn’t dried properly when you are done,” Dr. Chernobilsky says. In short: Your ears are not the place to build your own irrigation system.
Is there a safe way to remove wax?
Your best bet when it comes to earwax: Let it be.But certain people may accumulate wax faster, Dr. Chernobilsky explains. “These are the peoplethat use hearing aids with in-the-ear molds, doctors that use stethoscopes, musicians that use ear plugs, or people that use ear buds to listen to music, to name a few.” If your wax buildup really bothers you, visit your primary care provider or an otolaryngologist every few months to have your ears cleaned out.Between those doctor visits, you can try an over-the-counter wax softener, as long as you know that your ears are otherwise healthy and you don’t have any cuts in or around the eardrum. Softening products typically involve drops or an oily solution that loosen wax and help it slide to the outer ear. Some products also come with peroxide to dissolve the stuff. “The [softeners] that are oil-based are just fine,” says Dr. Chernobilsky. But if you use a product with peroxide and have a cut, it will burn.He also warns that if you’ve got a large plug of wax, a softener could make you feel much worse: “The peroxide can cause the wax to expand and cause significant pain, pressure, and hearing loss without dissolving the plug.”
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