Table of contents:
- We need earwax
- Why is it not recommended to use cotton buds?
- So, is it necessary to keep your ears clean?
- How to clean your ears safely?
You should never put anything in your ear to remove dirt and dust. Yes, including cleaning the ears with a cotton bud.
For some people, earwax can build up very quickly, reducing the ability to hear and, in some cases, causing pain. Many people choose to use cotton buds to remove the dirt. In fact, although cleaning the ears with cotton buds is quite common, experts reveal that cleaning the ears with cotton buds can cause hearing loss or damage to the inner ear canal.
We need earwax
The inner ear canal has special cells that function to produce cerumen, aka earwax. Earwax production is not without reason. Reporting from The Huffington Post, William H. Shapiro, an audiologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, explained that earwax is the body's natural protector from all kinds of foreign particles, including insects, that can enter the body through the ear holes.
Earwax also contains antibiotic and antifungal properties, so cleaning your ears too often can result in ear and skin complications, including ear infections and eczema on the outside of the ear.
Why is it not recommended to use cotton buds?
Although earwax residue will remain and stick to the cotton swab when you clean your ears, at the same time you are also pushing and squeezing the earwax further inward, past the place where oil production in the ear occurs (an ideal location where earwax should stay). This will cause pain, pressure, temporary hearing loss, and risk of piercing the eardrums.
The eardrum is very easy for the cotton bud to reach. Because the eardrum is very fragile, this vital organ in the ear will break easily even when it is subjected to the slightest pressure from the push of a cotton bud. The pain is quite severe and your ear may leak clear fluid from inside. A pierced eardrum will easily heal on its own, however, the recovery process will take a long time and can lead to conductive hearing loss.
So, is it necessary to keep your ears clean?
Too little earwax that remains will increase the risk of infection, quoted from the American Hearing Research Foundation. At least, there are ten antimicrobial peptides contained in earwax to prevent bacteria and fungi from multiplying. Meanwhile, too much earwax can increase the incidence of infection and hearing loss. Hence, you need proper ear care.
In general, the inner ear opening does not need cleaning. Quoting from the Smithsonian Magazine, Dr. Rob Hicks revealed, the ear has a self-cleaning mechanism. Fat and oil in the ear canal will trap any foreign particles that enter the ear and flush it out as earwax. Earwax, according to Hicks, will dissipate on its own without you knowing it.
The skin structure in your ear canal grows like an outward spiral. Once the wax dries up, every movement your jaw makes (chewing, talking, whatever) helps smooth the transportation of the earwax from inside to out of the ear canal.
During shampooing or showering, water that enters the ear canal dilutes your earwax, making it easier to drain.
How to clean your ears safely?
In contrast to the inner ear canal, the outer ear should be cleaned regularly. Even so, still avoid cleaning your ears with cotton buds. After showering, just use a little soap, water, and a clean cloth to scrub the outside of the ears.
A method like this will not give the effect of a clean ear, however, quoting Shape, Nithin Bathia, M.D., of ENT You Allergy Associates New York, argues that the moisture provided by earwax is good for the health of your ears. Ears that are completely free of earwax will make the ear canal dry and itchy. This condition will then create a habit that is repeated; You feel that your ears are itching due to too much earwax building up, so you will be picking your ears more and more regularly. The harder you scrape your ear, the more histamine is released which will cause the skin to become irritated and inflamed, making the problem worse.
If you are not satisfied with just cleaning your ears with a damp cloth, you can use an over-the-counter ear cleaner solution at the nearest pharmacy or supermarket. Simply drop the ear drops solution to make it easier for you to clean your ears. However, the best solution for ear cleaning is actually to visit your ENT doctor for a professional ear cleaning.
