Doctor warns against use of cotton swabs for ear wax removal
- Replies 4
Impaired hearing is a common problem for a lot of people. But this problem doesn't just affect how we interact with our environment—it could also be a matter of life and death.
It's definitely not a joke when you think of the dangers when people don't hear the sound of a car, bicycle, or scooter suddenly coming up to them from the back. But what if the cause of your burden is because of ear wax build-up?
According to Dr Martin Scurr, ‘Ear wax is secreted by glands in the skin that line the ear canal; it acts as a protective barrier against germs and debris, and as it is produced, the older wax gradually migrates to the exterior where it’s easily washed away.’
He added, ‘But in some people, this mechanism is faulty—wax builds up and eventually blocks the ear canal. All GPs have patients who regularly—every few months or perhaps every year or so — need their ears cleared of wax.’
Dr Scurr also warned that not having your ears cleaned regularly can lead to at least three problems, the first being difficulty in hearing due to wax build-up.
The second problem is infection. When water from a bath, shower, or swimming enters the ear blocked with ear wax, it can result in near-complete deafness. If left untreated, it may lead to infection. Treatments for ear infections include antibiotics, which can be hard to remove.
Lastly, and the most common problem, is damage to the ear drum caused by the use of anything from cotton swabs to paper clips to DIY ear wax removal.
Dr Scurr said, ‘I’ve seen the results of DIY attempts using everything from a cotton bud to a bent paper clip.’
‘The perforation doesn’t always heal properly, resulting in long-term impaired hearing—think of a tambourine with a hole in it, the membrane can no longer vibrate to pass on sounds to the hearing nerve,’ he said.
So what are we to do if the problem lies in an accumulation of wax in the ear? According to Dr Martin Scurr, we should not be tempted to use cotton swabs to try and remove the wax, as this will do more harm than good.
This advice is not uncommon. Another GP strongly advised against using cotton swabs to clean our ears, and said that ear wax is good for our ears. Read more about it here.
Since ear wax is ‘glued’ to the skin of the ear canal, doctors use drops to soften it and then flush out with water. There is also the use ofdevice like a ‘Waterpik’ jet that dentists use or microsuction.
Dr Scurr said he would use a wax hook, but only for certain cases.
‘But all these techniques require exact knowledge of the anatomy—and awareness of the risks,’ he warned.
‘The advice now is that people try using drops to shift the wax themselves, using softening drops bought from a chemist.’
‘This can help in some, but not all, cases,’ he added, citing a survey where only 1 in 5 respondents were successful in removing earwax, while one in ten either had their ear afflications worsen or caused themselves injury.
Remember, members: we are not medical professionals. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, consult your GP immediately!
How do you take care of your ears? Let us know in the comments below!
It's definitely not a joke when you think of the dangers when people don't hear the sound of a car, bicycle, or scooter suddenly coming up to them from the back. But what if the cause of your burden is because of ear wax build-up?
According to Dr Martin Scurr, ‘Ear wax is secreted by glands in the skin that line the ear canal; it acts as a protective barrier against germs and debris, and as it is produced, the older wax gradually migrates to the exterior where it’s easily washed away.’
He added, ‘But in some people, this mechanism is faulty—wax builds up and eventually blocks the ear canal. All GPs have patients who regularly—every few months or perhaps every year or so — need their ears cleared of wax.’
Dr Scurr also warned that not having your ears cleaned regularly can lead to at least three problems, the first being difficulty in hearing due to wax build-up.
Using cotton swabs to clean our ears may do more harm than good. Credit: Unsplash
The second problem is infection. When water from a bath, shower, or swimming enters the ear blocked with ear wax, it can result in near-complete deafness. If left untreated, it may lead to infection. Treatments for ear infections include antibiotics, which can be hard to remove.
Lastly, and the most common problem, is damage to the ear drum caused by the use of anything from cotton swabs to paper clips to DIY ear wax removal.
Dr Scurr said, ‘I’ve seen the results of DIY attempts using everything from a cotton bud to a bent paper clip.’
‘The perforation doesn’t always heal properly, resulting in long-term impaired hearing—think of a tambourine with a hole in it, the membrane can no longer vibrate to pass on sounds to the hearing nerve,’ he said.
So what are we to do if the problem lies in an accumulation of wax in the ear? According to Dr Martin Scurr, we should not be tempted to use cotton swabs to try and remove the wax, as this will do more harm than good.
This advice is not uncommon. Another GP strongly advised against using cotton swabs to clean our ears, and said that ear wax is good for our ears. Read more about it here.
Since ear wax is ‘glued’ to the skin of the ear canal, doctors use drops to soften it and then flush out with water. There is also the use ofdevice like a ‘Waterpik’ jet that dentists use or microsuction.
Dr Scurr said he would use a wax hook, but only for certain cases.
‘But all these techniques require exact knowledge of the anatomy—and awareness of the risks,’ he warned.
‘The advice now is that people try using drops to shift the wax themselves, using softening drops bought from a chemist.’
‘This can help in some, but not all, cases,’ he added, citing a survey where only 1 in 5 respondents were successful in removing earwax, while one in ten either had their ear afflications worsen or caused themselves injury.
Remember, members: we are not medical professionals. If you’re experiencing hearing loss, consult your GP immediately!
How do you take care of your ears? Let us know in the comments below!
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must make a claim one day
