If you must use Q-tips, stick to the outer ear, which is less easily damaged. “Nature made the ear a self-cleansing surface,” says Dr.Kim. You don’t have to clean the inside at all, since debris falls out on its own. So, then how do you keep your ears clean? The same way you clean the rest of your body: with a gentle washcloth on the outside. In fact, you should avoid putting anything inside your ear. The result? A greater possibility for infection. BEST WAY TO CLEAN EARS SKINThis can cause hearing loss, as can the eardrum punctures that may result from Q-tip use.Īnd since the skin in your ear canal is delicate, Q-tips can break it easily, creating openings for bacteria to enter, says Dr. If anything, Q-tip cleaning can become counterproductive by pushing wax further in, says Mercy Medical Center otolaryngologist Ileana Showalter, M.D. Remind your preteen or teenager to clean behind their ears with soap and warm water to remove oil and dirt that can cause acne back there. Earwax, officially known as cerumen, is there for a reason: namely, to keep your skin moisturized and block out infections, says Ana Kim, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Columbia Doctors and associate professor of otolaryngology at Columbia University Medical Center. If your child complains of ear discomfort and you see earwax in the ear, its OK to wipe the outside of the ear with a washcloth. But despite the feel-good rush it brings, doctors really, really want you to stop sticking Q-tips, toothpicks, car keys, and pretty much anything else in that orifice, as we reported.Īs good as it feels, cleaning your inner ears with a Q-tip is just not the healthiest idea. If the wax within your ears isn’t loosening, you may need to consult your doctor or ear nurse to have it professionally removed.There's no getting around it: Sticking a Q-tip in your ear feels pretty damn good. To effectively clean the ears, the process may need to be repeated several times. You can typically purchase ear wax softening drops at pharmacies without requiring a prescription. If you find that the irrigation method doesn’t work well for you the first time around, you may need to use ear wax softening drops to encourage the removal of the ear wax. This will help to soften and loosen any ear. BEST WAY TO CLEAN EARS HOW TOSpecially designed ear cleaning syringes, which may be easier to use, are often stocked by most pharmacies. How to remove ear wax at home Use a syringe to squirt some lukewarm water or saline solution into your ear canal. If you don’t have a syringe on hand, you may choose to use a clean cup or jug to help you pour the lukewarm water or saline solution into your ear.
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