WHY YOU SHOULD NOT CLEAN YOUR EARS WITH A COTTON BUD

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT CLEAN YOUR EARS WITH A COTTON BUD

There are some people that swear by sticking a cotton bud into their ears to remove excess wax
 and debris. Anyone in the medical field can tell you, they have seen many catastrophes resulting
 from using cotton swabs.

From punctured ear drums to super impacted wax, there are many negative consequences
associated with "do-it-yourself" ear cleaning.

 There are a number of items that people use to clean their ears. Some of the most interesting
seen in the doctor’s office: Cotton Swabs Hair Pins Tweezers Pens and Pencils Straws Paper clips 
Children’s Toys (CAUTION!!! It is important to understand that NOTHING should be placed inside 
the ear to remove dirt and debris. This is a dangerous practice that could leave a patient with
 hearing loss.)

The ear canal has specialized cells that produce cerumen, commonly known as ear wax.
 For some people, ear wax accumulates much faster than others. This can lead to wax 
buildup that causes decreased ability to hear and in some instances, pain. As an easy way
to avoid seeing a medical professional, many folks resort to using swabs to remove the 
excess wax. While this may seem like an excellent alternative to spending countless minutes 
waiting in a doctor’s office waiting room, using a cotton swab may do more harm than good. 
The eardrum is easily reached with a swab. 
Because the eardrum is so delicate, it can be easily ruptured by using even the gentlest of 
pressure when using a swab.

Ask anyone who has experienced a punctured eardrum - it isn't a pleasant experience.
The pain is quite severe and the ear may also leak a clear fluid. While a punctured eardrum 
will heal, it typically takes a while and can even lead to conductive hearing loss. So this leaves
 us with the question, do we really need to clean out our ears? The answer is a little confusing, 
as both a, “Yes,” and a, “No,” are appropriate. The outer ear that can be seen does need a 
good cleaning every now and then. This can be accomplished with a little soap,

water and a washcloth. cotton swabs can cause hearing loss In most cases, the ear canal does
not need to be cleaned. During hair washing or showers, enough water enters into the ear canal
to loosen the wax that has accumulated. Additionally, the skin in your ear canal naturally grows
in an outward, spiral pattern. 

As it sloughs off, ear wax goes with it.

Most of the time the wax will loosen and fall out on its own while you are asleep. The need for a
cotton swab isn't really necessary. For those that have heavy wax build-up, a trip to the doctor 
may be needed. Doctors can easily remove ear wax with a little peroxide mixed with water and 
injected into the ear. 

The process is virtually painless and is very effective in removing impacted wax.
If this frequently becomes a problem, patients can ask their physicians for directions to do 
the procedure at home. If you are experiencing wax or dirt build-up in your ears, contact your 
medical care professional for instructions on how to safely clean your ears. Never stick anything 
into your ear canal, including your own fingers. This could further impact the wax or damage 
the eardrum. As a good rule of thumb, if you aren't sure if what you are doing is safe, 
contact a health professional. 

Source: Natural health UK

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