Why Using Q-tips in Your Ear Can Be Harmful.
Do you find yourself constantly reaching for cotton buds to clean your ears?
You're not alone.
But did you know that using cotton swabs inside your ears can lead to complications, including injury and infection? In fact, they can push earwax deeper into your ear canal, causing discomfort, pain, and even hearing loss.
Why Traditional Methods Can Be Harmful:
The Dangers of Cotton Swabs: Cotton swabs might seem like a quick fix for earwax, but they can actually do more harm than good. They can push earwax deeper into the ear canal, leading to impaction, pain, and muffled hearing. Don't risk damaging your ears with these outdated tools.
Risk of Injury: Inserting cotton swabs too far into your ears can result in injuries, such as a ruptured eardrum. In fact, a study found that about 73 percent of ear injuries from cotton swabs were associated with ear cleaning. These injuries can be painful and detrimental to your hearing.
The Infection Risk: Earwax serves a crucial role in trapping and slowing the growth of bacteria in your ear canal. Using cotton swabs can push earwax and the bacteria it contains deeper into your ear, increasing the risk of ear infections. Don't let your quest for cleanliness lead to discomfort and illness.
Foreign Body in the Ear: In some unfortunate cases, the tip of a cotton swab may come off inside your ear, causing discomfort, fullness, pain, and even hearing loss. One study even found cotton swabs to be one of the most common foreign objects in adult ears.
Thousands of healthcare professionals trust DrEar™.
But weren’t cotton buds designed for cleaning our ears?
Yes! Cotton buds were designed in 1923 by Leo Gerstenzang, to help his wife clean their baby’s ears. They were originally called Q-Tips, the ‘Q’ indicating quality. However in the early 1970’s concerns were raised with reports of cotton buds causing perforation of the eardrum and impacted earwax in several cases.
Many manufacturers then started to advise against using them for cleaning the ears and removing earwax and continue to do so today, promoting them instead for applying creams, make-up and drying wet skin between a baby’s fingers or toes. Despite this and many subsequent studies which have highlighted the same dangers, people still make the mistake of using cotton buds today to try and remove earwax from the ear canal.
What if I only use cotton swabs in the outer part of my ears?
Every patient who uses cotton swabs emphasizes that they are very careful about limiting the depth of insertion. However, accidents are called accidents for a reason.
A patient was recently referred to me after she put a cotton swab in her ear and accidentally bumped it, pushing the swab deep into the ear canal, which caused immediate pain and bleeding. Her ear drum was almost completely destroyed, with only a tiny sliver remaining.
Fortunately, her internal hearing organs were not damaged, so we can perform surgery to replace her ear drum and improve her hearing. If the cotton swab had gone a few millimeters deeper, she may have lost all of her hearing permanently.
So, What Should I Use to Clean My Ears?
In light of the potential risks associated with cotton swabs and other traditional ear-cleaning methods, you might be wondering what the best approach is to maintain your ear health. The answer lies in embracing safe and effective alternatives.
DrEar™ Ear Wax Removal Pro, with its innovative design and clinically proven non-invasive approach, is your solution. It allows you to clean your ears without pushing earwax deeper or risking injury. With its crystal-clear hearing benefits, DrEar™ provides a comfortable and efficient way to maintain ear hygiene. And, for those seeking at-home remedies, consider using earwax softening drops, available at your local pharmacy.
These drops can help soften and break down impacted earwax, supporting the natural self-cleaning process of your ears. Say goodbye to the dangers of cotton swabs and welcome the safer, more effective options to ensure your ears remain clean and your hearing stays sharp.
Thousands of healthcare professionals trust DrEar™.
Patricia Johnson, AuD
Patricia Johnson, AuD, is a clinical audiologist at the UNC Hearing and Communication Center and an assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences at UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill.
