Earwax is uncomfortable and can make people feel uneasy. This is why many of us use cotton swabs for ear wax removal. The problem is that every attempt at removing ear wax could put your ears and hear in danger.

Why? Boris Chernobilsky, MD, assistant clinical professor of Otolaryngology at Icahn School Of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, explained why. Dr. Chernobilsky stated that the most severe outcome could be fluid leaking from the inner ears. “This could cause severe vertigo or even permanent hearing loss.” Cotton swabs may be bathroom staples but are not limpieza de oidos bogota intended for use in the ears. You’ll see this on the packaging. The typical recommendation is to use cotton swabs for cleaning the outside surfaces and ears.

A cotton-swab’s rigid and pointy shape could cause skin, eardrums, or ossicles to become damaged. Infections can also be caused by cotton swabs being used to clean your ears. Impaction could also be a result of using swabs. Impaction occurs when excessive earwax causes ear-related problems (e.g., hearing loss) or prevents healthcare providers from assessing the ears when a patient has their ears examined.

Dr. Chernobilsky explained that swabs could push the wax deeper into your ears and cause impaction. A third possibility is that your cotton head may pop out in your ear. It is best to visit a healthcare provider to have it removed.

Ear candling is inserting a hollow cone-shaped candle into an ear. The heat from the flame is said to create a vacuum effect and draw wax to the candle. While there have been some success stories with candling, Dr. Chernobilsky is wary of the dangers involved. He said he had seen burns and perforations to the ears from hair caught on fire.

Ear irrigation, which is washing your ears, can remove earwax. You can use a syringe or a spray bottle to inject body-temperature liquid into your ear while standing upright. Then, you can tilt your head to drain the water out. Be careful when you rinse out the earwax. Dr. Chernobilsky stated that although this method can be safe if used correctly, it can cause a swimmer’s ear.

You should also avoid cleaning your ears if there is a possibility of a hole in your eardrums or if your ears have been re-examined. You should consult your healthcare provider before trying to do ear irrigation yourself. Dr. Chernobilsky stated that some people accumulate wax more quickly than others. These are people who use hearing aids that have in-the-ear molds. They also include doctors who use stethoscopes. Musicians that use earplugs or people who use earbuds for music.

There are some over-the-counter options for wax softeners. But make sure your ears are healthy, and there are no cuts or injuries around the eardrum. Softening products usually consist of drops or an oily liquid that loosens and slides the wax to the outer part of your ear.

Some products include peroxide to dissolve the substance. Dr. Chernobilsky stated that oil-based softeners are acceptable. However, if you apply a product that contains peroxide to a cut, it will burn. Dr. Chernobilsky cautioned that using a softener can make it worse if you have a large amount of wax stuck to your skin. “The peroxide could cause the wax’s expansion and cause significant pain, pressure, and hearing loss, but not the plug.”

Between visits to your healthcare provider, another trick is to tilt your head sideways and apply a few drops of mineral oil to the ear. I prefer mineral oil over baby oil, as it is more inert than baby oil and does not contain fragrances that can trigger allergies.