Still using Q-tips for ears? Doctor warns about hearing risks

What happens when you stick a Q-tip in your ear

Many instinctively reach for a cotton swab to clean their ears. But you can not only push wax deeper into the ear canal, but you can also irritate the skin.

Dr. Nicole Aaronson, ENT specialist and medical doctor, explained that when you randomly insert a Q-tip into the ear canal, it rubs against the walls and pushes wax further in.

If you insert it deeply enough, you can press the wax against the eardrum, which may affect your hearing.

You even risk damaging the eardrum or causing a perforation. Any perforation can lead to external otitis.

The ear’s natural cleaning mechanism

It’s important to know that ears have a self-cleaning mechanism that softens and removes wax naturally. A small amount of wax is actually beneficial, as it supports the health of the skin and ear canal.

How to properly care for your ears

Earwax has antimicrobial properties and is meant to clean the ears. It also forms a barrier against debris, dust, fungal spores, and even small insects. Additionally, the body naturally removes earwax as needed.

You should see a doctor if you experience sudden changes in hearing. Warning signs include:

• Discharge or bleeding from the ears

• Reduced or muffled hearing

• Persistent ringing or noise in the ears

• Pain, discomfort, or redness in the ears

• Dizziness

• Feeling of fullness in the ears or a sensation of a foreign object inside

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.