Why you shouldn’t use cotton swabs to clean your ears

Earwax is usually associated with dirt that needs to be removed daily or several times a week. Although it is clear that cleaning should be carried out in this area, it should also be understood that this natural substance plays an important role for health.

Specifically, earwax protects the skin of the ear canal and prevents external agents such as dust, bacteria and other dirt from penetrating and causing damage.

And if we talk about the method of cleaning earwax, it is no secret that the most classic is the use of tampons, commonly known in Chile as cottonitos, and which are characterized by being a stick in plastic with cotton at the ends.

Although it is a recurring technique, using cotton swabs to remove earwax can carry a series of risks for children and adults.

As the site points out Cigna Health earwax could only block the ear canal if it is pushed inwards.

And this is precisely what happens when we use cotton: Instead of removing the sticky substance, it is pushed deeper and deeper into the ear. Ultimately, when this practice has been repeated several times, a plug of earwax is generated.

The above may trigger adverse effects such as partial hearing loss, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), pain, infections and even rupture of the eardrum .

“If you try to remove earwax with cotton swabs, you run the risk of irritating the delicate skin of the inner ear,” he explained. The New York Times Hae-Ok Ana Kim, a doctor specializing in the treatment of inner ear disorders at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

And if not with swabs, what is the most appropriate and safest way to clean the ears?

As otolaryngologist Elisa Gil-Carcedo explained to the newspaper The country one of the recommended methods is to use drops that can dissolve earwax and prevent blockages from forming in the ear canal.

“These oils should be used periodically depending on each person’s rate of plug formation,” explained the specialist.

Another option suggested by specialists is to use a slightly damp cloth . However, this should only be done on the outermost part of the ear so as not to push earwax inwards.