Q-Tip the great debate: should clean the ears? We finally have an answer

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According to Jennifer Derebery, MD, the diseases of the ear to the specialized clinic home use in Los Angeles, cotton swabs in the ear, it is not a record. "I've seen a number of ear infections and punctured eardrum and bones dislocated same ear (ossicles) Cleaning too strong," he said. "If you forced and clean to use cotton swabs" bowl "of the ear canal and leave it alone." But with cotton swabs in the ear cup can be a slippery slope. In response to a text during a movie, going to the inner ear, may also be difficult to return, even though we know we should not.

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Many fans of Q-Tip, she said for the first time the feeling of cotton buds become addicted to gently massage the ear. All you need is a little itchy, Abbas Anwar, MD, an otolaryngologist practice in Santa Monica, California said. "There are actually four different cranial nerves that innervate the ear canal," he says. "As these nerve endings packed into a small space, which is a very sensitive area. This means that the sweetness of a Q-tip can feel very nice for some people. "

And of course there is the issue of cleanliness. "I believe that the buffer is an equal partner with other types of personal hygiene, like brushing your teeth and wash your face," Oakland, California says resident Liz Kotin, 38, who was a Q -Dump since his youth.

If the ears appear to be clogged, it could be your stuffy nose. Delete the serious moment with this advice:

Despite the distance a common reason people turn to the buffer of the wax, it is not usually necessary, experts. Left to their own devices, earwax or cerumen, you can take care of themselves. natural wax travels downward and out of the ear canal to the outer ear, driven along a conveyor belt style for our jaw movements. Once there, you can safely remove a finger covered with a cloth. (For more details on this technique a bit.)

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In addition, let wax, which has real benefits. "The wax is good," Derebery said. "It kills bacteria. The skin is wet. It's sticky, so if a foreign object, such as an insect that enters the ear, it will intercept and prevent the eardrum and break it. "Wait, what? Insects? Yes, confirmed Anwar. While the output of error is rare, the wax case of small insects before they reach deeper into the ear canal.

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In addition to injuries, excessive zeal, the deep swabber cotton bud grows to remove ear wax, can actually make matters worse, Anwar said. "Q-tips, eventually they can continue to push cerumen ear. Since it stacks against the eardrum, hearing loss can be greatly affected. "Once this happens, the wax can be hard and impact and may have to be removed by a doctor. "We have special tools and suckers and may be ear microscope accurately and thoroughly clean the ear canal," Anwar said.

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heard Fortunately for swabbers said Anwar, there are many safe alternatives that can help you keep your ears feel clean. Here are two reliable techniques worth trying:

Hydrogen peroxide: Too much wax? A 2012 - study showed that the ear canal with 70% isopropyl alcohol is poured once a week, significantly reduced the amount of wax can reduce clogging of the ear canal. can soften a few drops of hydrogen peroxide earwax, it is easier to Anwar. "Can a product free (buy $ 6 sale as Debrox amazon.com ), the droplets also can help the wax to soften." Once softened, wanders the wax on the outer ear, where it can be washed or securely wiped ,

Note: An alternative method of removing wax, called Mirage, comprising a hollow candle placed in the ear canal, it is highly discouraged by the Academy. "Another OTC product is not recommended as ear plugs, as this can be dangerous," Anwar said. (You should also avoid these worst ways to delete their absolute ears ).

Fabric: If you really can not resist forever - in, Anwar said a cloth to wrap your fingertip gently pinna and the outer edge of the opening of the ear canal wipe is better than a cotton ball - rod. "It's all right as long as the finger is not used for deeper tissue in the channel." Remove the outer ear gently with a washcloth can also help.

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