Cotton swabs are wrongly used for cleaning and removing earwax. However, in addition to not removing all the wax, their use can cause injuries or infections and is not recommended. When there is excess wax, it can and should be removed.
Why do we accumulate wax in our ears?
Earwax, also known as cerumen or cerumen, is a matter secreted by the sebaceous glands of the external ear canal, which is normal and even desirable, because it works as a “barrier”. Its functions include lubricating or helping to physiologically clean the ear canal and preventing dirt from entering the ear, protecting it from infections and the growth of bacteria.
But there are several reasons why wax builds up in the ear canal: presence of disease or narrowing of the ear canal that contributes to the accumulation of wax; changes in the texture of the wax, normal in the aging process, as the glands in the skin of the ear canal tend to atrophy, producing harder and less fluid wax; excess wax production, which often occurs in response to trauma; or inappropriate attempts to remove wax, for example with cotton swabs.
Cotton swabs can cause injuries
Wax build-up can cause bothersome symptoms, such as hearing loss, blocked ears, ear pain, itching, coughing, dizziness or tinnitus. But, at the use cotton swabs to try to remove the waxthe ear canal, you may be pushing the wax further into the ear, obstructing it and making it difficult to expel naturally. Furthermore, the use of cotton swabs can cause damage to the ear canal, otitis externa and perforation of the tympanic membrane. Whenever you introduce foreign objects into your ears, you may be introducing harmful bacteria or fungi into the ear canal, which increases the risk of ear infections, which may require medical treatment (e.g. ear infections).
Because it is sensitive, Skin lining the ear canal can be damaged by cotton swabs, which scratch or irritate the skin, causing inflammation or even small tears in the ear canal. These lesions can become infected and make the problem even worse. In more serious cases, inserting cotton swabs into the ear canal to remove wax can puncture or tear the eardrum, the thin membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear, causing pain and potential hearing loss.
When to use cotton swabs
He must Clean the outside of your ears after showering with a towel, avoiding forcing it into the ear. Cotton swabs are only for clean the outside of the ears and should never be inserted into the ear canal, as shown in the image. The packaging of cotton swabs even warns against inserting them into the ear canal. You can also use cotton swabs for purposes such as applying makeup, cosmetic products or medicines, or to care for wounds.
How to remove wax from your ears
You should never try to remove ear wax at home. If you have wax blocking your ear canal, or if the wax causes you discomfort, you should seek medical help to remove it, as this must be done in a clinical setting.
There is three procedures to remove excess wax of the ears.
Wax softening
To soften earwax it may be necessary to use ceruminolytic substances (water or oil-based drops that help dissolve earwax). These substances are sold without a prescription, in pharmacies or parapharmacies, but should not be used without guidance from a doctor, especially if you have eardrum damage, pain or signs of an ear infection. Before purchasing this type of ear cleaning solution, consult your doctor.
Ear washing
This type of washing, with sterile water or saline solution, can be used when the previous procedure does not work or in conjunction with the use of medical instruments when it is necessary to remove foreign objects lodged in the external ear canal. But this solution is contraindicated if you have an earache or fever (inner ear infection), if you have already had ear surgery or if your eardrum is perforated.
Manual removal
Mechanical removal of earwax is the quickest and most effective method, but it can only be done by an otorhinolaryngologist. If you experience symptoms such as hearing loss, a blocked ear, dizziness or tinnitus, make an appointment. With the right instruments, these doctors can see directly inside the ear and easily remove excess earwax.
Avoid alternative methods like candles or cones
More recently, they began to appear on the market alternative ear cleaning solutions, such as candles or cones. These are used in traditional Chinese medicine and promoted as an alternative therapy for the treatment of problems such as sinusitis, rhinitis, flu, headaches, ringing in the ears or vertigo.
It is a type of straw made of cotton, beeswax and chamomile that is placed in the ear and at the opposite end of which a flame is lit. It is with the heat from the candle that a vacuum is supposedly created and earwax and debris are sucked into the candle. However, there is no scientific evidence that this method has benefits or is effective in removing wax. In fact, its use can be quite dangerous, and there are studies that have already demonstrated that it can cause burns to the face, ear canal, eardrum and middle ear, ear injuries, perforation of the eardrum, hemorrhages and accidental fires.
