If your household had a bathroom cabinet when you were growing up, there’s a good chance it was stocked with cotton buds. But while many of us use these instruments to remove wax from our ears, this is actually a very bad idea and should be avoided.
Here we’ll go over the reasons why you should never stick cotton buds down your ear canal to remove wax and how doing so can actually be quite dangerous. We’ll also point out some better ways to clear your ears.
Cotton Bud Risks
There are a few reasons why you should abstain from using cotton buds to clear wax. These include:
Risk Of Eardrum Damage:
Firstly, using cotton buds poses a significant risk of damaging the eardrum. When inserted too deeply into the ear canal, the cotton bud may inadvertently puncture or tear the eardrum, leading to severe pain, hearing loss and potentially even long-term damage to the ear’s function.
Such injuries may require medical intervention and could still result in permanent hearing impairment, highlighting the severe risk of using cotton buds to remove wax.
Potential For Blockages:
Another risk associated with cotton buds is the possibility of pushing ear wax deeper into the ear canal. If this occurs, it can harden and cause blockages, which have the potential to create a plethora of issues including hearing loss, pain and an increased risk of ear infections.
Such blockages may require professional removal and could lead to complications if left untreated, highlighting the importance of using safer methods for ear hygiene.
Risk Of Irritation And Inflammation:
In addition to the risk of eardrum damage and wax blockages, using cotton buds can also irritate the delicate lining of the ear canal, leading to discomfort and even inflammation.
The abrasive nature of the cotton bud, coupled with the often excessive force that’s used when cleaning, may cause tiny tears in the skin of the ear canal, increasing the likelihood of pain, itching and even infection.
By irritating the inner ear, this can disrupt the delicate balance of the ear’s ecosystem, making it susceptible to bacterial or fungal overgrowth which can create a wealth of issues.
How Is Wax Removed?
So with cotton buds out of the equation, you might be wondering how else you’re supposed to remove earwax. Thankfully, there are a few options on the table.
The first is to purchase some ear drops. These often contain hydrogen peroxide, which gets to work softening the wax, allowing it to naturally exit the ear on its own.
Ear syringing, or ear irrigation, is another option, especially if there is an excessive amount. This safe and effective procedure is performed by healthcare professionals who will direct a gentle stream of warm water into your ear canal using a specialised syringe. This will help to soften and flush out built-up earwax.
So by regularly having your ears syringed by a certified professional, you can prevent wax from building up and hardening, maintaining your otological health.
Professional Earwax Removal
Here at Newdays pharmacy, we’re a dedicated earwax removal pharmacy, so we offer a range of private and NHS services. You can find out more about us online and book an appointment with one of our pharmacists in your local branch.
If you’d like to find out more about our ear wax syringing, get in touch with us today as we’d be more than happy to discuss.
So those are the main risks with using cotton buds in your ears. As you can see, failure to use a safer and more effective method for removing wax could present a raft of problems, from temporary hearing loss to infections to pain and discomfort.
But by regularly having your ears syringed by one of our professionals, you can prevent wax from building up and going hard, maintaining your otological health.