Many people reach for a cotton swab after a shower to wipe away leftover water and earwax. But a physician warns that the habit can push wax deeper into the ear canal and damage ear health rather than clean it.
Dr. Amir Khan, a general practitioner with Britain's National Health Service, said on social media that people should stop cleaning inside their ears with cotton swabs, according to AOL and other British outlets.
Khan said earwax is not simply dirt to be removed. It protects the ear by trapping dust and foreign particles in the ear canal and keeping them from reaching the eardrum.
Most ears expel wax naturally without any digging. Moving the jaw to speak or chew food also nudges wax gradually toward the opening of the ear canal.
The trouble starts when a swab goes deep into the ear. Some wax comes out on the tip, which can feel like the ear has been cleaned, but much of it may be pushed farther into the canal. Repeated use can compact the wax into a hardened plug that blocks the ear, a condition known as impacted earwax.
The Mayo Clinic in the United States also advises against putting cotton swabs, hairpins or other objects into the ear to remove wax. Swabs tend to push wax deeper rather than remove it, and can injure the skin of the ear canal or the eardrum.
Scraping inside the ear with a swab can also tear the thin skin lining the canal. Damaged skin makes it easier for bacteria to enter, which can lead to conditions such as outer ear infection.
Khan said cotton from the swab sometimes breaks off and stays inside the ear. In clinical practice, medical staff occasionally have to remove pieces of cotton swab left behind by patients cleaning their own ears.
So how should earwax be removed? Because wax generally works its way out of the canal on its own, it is better not to force it out unless there are symptoms. Wiping away only the wax that has emerged outside the ear with a soft cloth is enough.
If wax builds up excessively and causes a blocked feeling, pain or a sudden drop in hearing, however, a visit to a medical facility is recommended.
Impacted earwax can bring hearing loss along with ear pain, a sensation of blockage, ringing in the ears and dizziness. When there is discharge from the ear or a sudden change in hearing, it is best to see a specialist rather than assume it is a simple wax problem.
