Are You Considering Purchasing A Popular Ear Cleaning kit.
Are you considering purchasing a popular ear cleaning kit?
There has recently been a boom in interest in ear wax removal.
From ear candles and ear candling salons to TikTok videos on how to clear earwax, the topic is sweeping the Internet. While this trend appears to be driving up sales of online ear cleaning kits, the issue remains: Is it safe?
Β Earwax Removal
To some extent, everyone generates earwax. Cerumen is the medical word for this oily material, a standard, self-cleaning function of the ears. Earwax is produced by glands in the skin of the ear canal, coupled with dead skin flakes – the same type of skin flakes seen on other regions of the body.
Some people don’t mind earwax, while others have a problem. Earwax buildup can obstruct the ear canal. It can cause infection if left untreated.
It can potentially destroy the ear canal bone in severe circumstances. And why is that? In a nutshell, genetics. Because of their biology, everyone generates varied sorts and amounts.
“Cotton swabs and other tools used to handle the ear canal blindly might cause damage to the lining. Bleeding, infection and pain might result from the damage.
The eardrum can also be damaged by the usage of cotton swabs, ear cleaning equipment, hairpins, and other similar objects, “Dr Samuel K. Pate, an otolaryngologist at Nebraska Medicine, agrees.
Is it safe to use ear wax removal kits?
Think twice before purchasing these at-home treatment kits. Most are ineffective cleaning methods that cause more harm than benefit.
Any earwax therapy that requires blind manipulation of the ear canal should be avoided. Solutions in a pipette and the irrigation technique are reasonably safe for home use.
Extreme caution should be exercised when flushing because high pressure might seriously injure the eardrum. It can also cause ear canal infections due to increased moisture in the ear canal. Cleaning the ear canal is best done with peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, or glycerin solutions.
An overview of the most popular online ear wax removal products. Many of these kits claim to remove earwax, reduce itching, or massage the ear canal. However, the majority require poking around in the ear canal with picks.
Here’s a rundown of what to avoid and what to use with caution:
Avoid kits that include equipment that you insert into your ear, such as:
Picks made of stainless steel are pointed, spiral-shaped, or otherwise inserted into the ear.
Spiral-shaped picks, even if they claim to be safer, are made of soft silicone.
Kits include smartphone cameras (endoscopes and otoscopes), picks, and lights. Even if you can see something with them, you still have to insert a device in your ear canal without being sufficiently trained to grasp what you’re looking at.
Ear candles are not scientifically supported, are more likely to cause harm, deepen the obstruction, and pose the danger of facial or ear burns.
The following kits should be used with extreme caution, as they can also cause eardrum or ear canal problems:
Kits for removing earwax with soluble drops and irrigation.
Earwax removal kits that include drops and a water-peroxide solution for rinsing.
If you have excessive earwax production and experience hearing loss or pain, it’s time to contact a specialist. “Under direct visual inspection, we remove the extra earwax. To remove earwax without injuring the skin of the ear canal or the eardrum, we employ fine instruments with magnification, “claims
4 Ways to Avoid Swimmer’s Ear
During the summer, a swimmer’s ear is a common problem for those who enjoy spending time in the water.
This is the swimmer’s ear (also known as otitis externa) is a frequent infection of the external ear canal caused by moisture left in the ear after swimming or other sports.
This creates a favourable environment for the development of the organism and even fungi. Minor injuries, such as scratching or inflammation in the ear canal, can also induce otitis externa.
This includes excessively using cotton swabs, fingers, or other things such as earplugs or hearing aids.
These substances can cause skin fissures and allow bacteria to develop. Eczema and psoriasis are two chronic skin disorders that can cause otitis externa.
To avoid swimmer’s ear, follow these steps:
After swimming or washing, gently dry your outer ears. You can also use a hairdryer to dry your ears if you set it to the lowest setting and keep it at least a foot away from your ear.
Make your ear drops for swimmers or use over-the-counter ear drops before and after swimming. I prefer to apply 7 to 8 drops of distilled white vinegar to the affected ear for 3 to 4 minutes, then gently slide a cotton ball into the opening of the ear canal to take out the liquid.
Any remaining moisture in the ears can be removed by using vinegar, which also helps to keep bacteria and fungus from forming.
To avoid eardrum irritation or perforation, avoid placing anything in your ear. Earwax may also be pushed further into the ear canal due to this.
If you have had an ear infection, an ear tube, or ear surgery, consult your doctor about taking extra measures before swimming.
Mild cases of swimmer’s ear usually go away on their own, but if the infection persists, you should seek medical attention.
Bleeding, excessive fluid leakage, growing pain, fever, substantial hearing loss, and even a drooping face are signs that the infection progresses.
First, you can treat the infection with over-the-counter swimmer’s ear drops. However, if the discomfort persists after a day or two, you should consult a doctor to avoid a more severe infection or other consequences.
An untreated ear canal infection can extend to deep layers of skin and, in rare cases, to the ear canal’s bone.
People with diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system are more likely to develop a more severe and potentially fatal infection known as malignant otitis externa or skull base osteomyelitis.
The infection can extend to the bones at the skull base, causing significant pain. The infection can cause damage to the cranial nerves that govern hearing, balance, facial muscle movement, swallowing, and speech in the most severe cases.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antifungals, or steroid drops to treat otitis externa.
In cases where antibiotics or steroids do not work, the ear canal must be cleaned or debrided in the clinic, along with extra antibiotics. Malignant otitis externa, on the other hand, necessitates a considerably more rigorous treatment plan that includes intravenous (IV) antibiotics and, in some cases, surgery to remove the afflicted skull base bone.
I treat numerous complicated illnesses involving the ears, vestibular system, and skull base as a board-certified otolaryngologist with further training in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses of the ear and its associated tissues.
Excess ear wax might be annoying, but it is best to let the body do what it can. While online kits and other ear cleaning methods may appear more convenient, it is recommended to stick to a warm washcloth and leave ear wax removal to medical professionals.
