Q-tips to clean your ears less than you think: This is what really works

Well, if you have not seen it, you probably have about the type of accident girl Lena Dunham HBO with a cotton swab had to read. Intense, deep setting is entered left a swab in her ear, and she was forced to seek the help of a doctor.

Of course there is an exaggerated exception. However, over the years, cotton swabs, such as Q-tips, they have the short end of the stick when it comes to the health of the ear. What was once a convenient way to (scientifically known earwax) earwax way is now expected to get rid of that more harm than good.

What's wrong with ear wax at all? And like someone to clean the ears without a cotton swab? We're glad you asked.

Can you hear me now?

Cotton swabs are used mainly to remove cerumen. Earwax is the only promotes healthy ear.

"The wax has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Keeps the skin of the ear canal to be too dry and is a natural cleanser ear canal," said Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel, a professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Medical Faculty of the University of Boston, in daily medical email.

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The amount of wax in the ear, and the color and consistency (soft difficile report) varies from person to person, Dr. Ronald Hoffman, Medical Director of the Ear Institute at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Mount Sinai, said in a medical daily e Mail.

Cerumen migrates naturally and of course leaves the outer edge of the ear. Anything that prevents wax - like constantly walking around with headphones on - can lead to accumulation.

A 2008 JAMA study found earwax construction leads to 12 million patient visits per year. Called Beyond the city, excessive ear hair, narrow ear canals, and bony outgrowths exostosis results in the accumulation, Spiegel said. The growths are usually in people who surf occur, and each swimming in cold water can slow the migration of wax.

The Inner Circle

Keep Obviously collect a minimum is key. While cotton swabs are ideal for cleaning the outer ear, which pose a real risk to the inner ear.

"The ear canal that has very sensitive skin, can be scratched by the tribe and create a situation in which you have an ear infection," says Spiegel. "You can tell, it works like crayons in the side channel and the mixture changes cotton color from white to yellow. Yet in point, we were able to simply push the wax further into [the ear canal, where it is difficult to leave]. "

Hoffman shear cotton swab too far to damage to the delicate structures of the middle ear and the inner ear, permanent hearing loss (may cause a health problem related to cognitive impairment in the future), bleeding and redness.

Cleaning

Surprisingly, the best way to clean the ears.

"Let the ear canal of wax and leave of course," said Spiegel. "If you are worried, go see an ENT doctor (head and neck surgeon). Surgeon is a microscope and microsurgical instruments easily remove earwax."

It can prevent swimmer's ear, mirror says, ear plugs and ear wax strips foam waterproof to prevent the penetration of water into the ear. Severe cases should for antibiotic ear drops seen by an otolaryngologist.

That is, there are other ways to get ear health. Hoffman mentioned there are over-the-counter drops of wax dissolves, but is recommended to talk to a doctor before you buy. "If you have a hole in the eardrum and falls onto the wax sets resolve, could cause an infection," Hoffman said. "Some people have very narrow ear canals and use the drops actually make it worse."

Dr. Sean Hashmi, a practicing physician in Keiser Permanente in San Francisco, the daily medical e-mail, sometimes soften ear wax with liquid docusate, which is usually a plasticizer.

There are also new products called Oto Council (implemented basic cleaning) and TEC Home (removes ear wax) in a newly formed company called Clear ear.

"The idea is that if you clean your ears at home from time to time, what most [Earwax] causing build-ups less likely:" Sure ear cofounder Lily Truong says TechCrunch . "I've seen people use dangerous methods to clean ear wax as safety pins, ear candles and forks."

Conclusion: Keep away wax buildup is not limited to a cotton swab, and certainly not backed up with a fork. Ouch.

For more information and resources to find a specialist near you, visit the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery website .

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