Why it's not good to use swabs to clean your ears

Who does not have ear swabs in the bathroom, or in the medicine cabinet? They have become, in fact, another element or tool of our hygiene and quasi-daily cleaning, with the aim of removing the wax or earwax that forms in our ears. However, did you know that they can become a real danger for them, being very harmful?

In our external auditory canal there tends to be a wax or earwax, which fulfills a very important protection function, to be part of the natural defenses of our body. Moreover, its main function is to ensure that the ears remain and are free of any type of infection, by exerting a lubricant and antibacterial function.

In addition, it prevents the entry of dirt and dust from the eardrum, which is why it is constituted as a fundamental defense weapon for our ears, to be indispensable also for its own natural cleaning. And indeed, The inadequate cleaning of ears implies certain health risks, such as infections such as otitis (more common in children) or fungal diseases.

But although at first sight it seems completely harmless, ear swabs should only be used to clean the outside of the ear. Why? Mainly because if they are introduced in the auditory channel they can cause lacerations or traumatisms that precisely trigger in otitis or infection in the ear canal.

We usually think that when cleaning the ears we must remove all the wax or cerumen present in them. But if we take into account the defensive functions that it exercises, in reality it would not be entirely adequate.

In fact, when we introduce the cotton swab into the ear, all we are getting is to push it further inside, so that it would be prevented from properly exercising its protective function, being trapped in the deepest part of our additive duct and containing turn accumulated bacteria, viruses or fungi. And if we push the wax too much we can block the ear canal, assuming a risk of hearing loss.

The rupture of the eardrum

If we insert the ear swab a lot into the ear canal we could cause more serious damage, such as perforation of the tympanic membrane or rupture of the eardrum (a small piece of tissue that separates the middle ear from the outer ear). These damages tend to heal by themselves, but in more serious cases should resort to surgery. In addition, we must bear in mind that severe perforations can cause dizziness and facial paralysis.

When the eardrum breaks, an opening or hole is formed, which can impair hearing. At the time of the break you can feel an annoying pain that immediately afterwards decreases suddenly. Then a clear discharge may appear, with blood or pus, and you may feel a noise or buzzing accompanied by discomfort or pain.

The treatment consists of placing hot compresses useful to relieve pain and discomfort, as well as analgesics for this same purpose. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to prevent or treat an existing infection. Meanwhile, it is necessary to always keep the ear dry and clean while it heals.

Useful tips for the best cleaning of the ears

Having everything indicated in mind, there is no doubt that it is always best to leave aside cotton swabs and use them only to clean the ears externally, without ever inserting them inside our ear canal. For example, they are useful for cleaning the folds we have in the ears, in order to remove dust and dirt that is present in this area.

We must bear in mind that the wax in the ears is not only not bad, but its presence fulfills an important protective function. In fact, When there is an excess of cerumen, it tends to come out through the external orifice in a natural way, so when we are showering the only thing we have to do to clean ourselves is to carefully rub the outer area of ​​the ear in order to remove the excess.

Also many experts advise using hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide to help eliminate wax buildup. To achieve this we only need to heat half a cup of water, until it is lukewarm. Then add half a cup of oxygenated water and with the mixture fill a dropper. Once prepared, and remaining lying down, we must fill the ear to clean leaving it to act for 3 minutes. Then we must turn the ear with the objective that the liquid comes out. To finish, clean your ear by rinsing your ear in the same way, but only using warm water.

When we have a certain predisposition to the excessive formation of wax and its accumulation, it is always best to go regularly to the otolaryngologist to help us remove possible plugs or excesses. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor.

Cleaning Your Ears Safely (March 2024)