Rohan Pal, 27, employed in the information technology industry, had been using cotton swabs to clean his ears for as long as he could remember.
It was a routine, casual habit until one day. “I noticed that the hearing ability in my right ear had reduced.” Concerned, Pal visited an ear, nose, and throat specialist or ENT and took a hearing test.
To many of us, cleaning ears with cotton swabs is almost a daily routine and we rarely give it a second thought. However, many do not realise that this practice is not as harmless as it seems – it can seriously damage our ears.
The specialist whom Pal consulted discovered that Pal’s right ear canal had a blockage caused by excessive earwax. The wax had become compacted and was difficult to remove, which was affecting his hearing.
The ENT figured out that the cotton swabs that Pal had been using to clean his ears were the culprit. With each use, the swabs were pushing the wax further into the ear canal, making it difficult to remove it and causing the blockage.
“I was advised to stop using cotton swabs to clean my ears. Instead, I was asked to use ear drops to soften and remove the hardened ear wax. The experts did a procedure to effectively remove the earwax.”
Pal followed the recommended treatment and within a few days, the earwax was successfully removed, and his hearing was restored.
Expert advice
Cotton swabs, also known as Q-tips, have been a household hygiene staple for a long time in personal grooming. Many people believe that using cotton swabs is an effective way to clean the inside of their ears, but the truth is that it can push wax further into the ear canal, causing a blockage.
Dr Mahesh Meda, visiting consultant in the ENT department at Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Bengaluru, explains that compacted or hardened earwax can cause ear blockage, discomfort, and pain. “Additionally, it can raise the risk of an ear infection and make it harder to remove the wax.”
According to Dr Ayush Chawla, attending ENT consultant, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, ear swabs remove the protective layer from the thin and sensitive layer of the skin inside the ear, causing microtrauma and exposing the ear to harmful fungal and bacterial infections. In some cases, swabs also harm the eardrum.
This is what the experts say. It is important to note that our body produces earwax to naturally protect our ears from dust, dirt, and other foreign particles. Earwax typically moves from the inner ear to the opening of the ear canal, where it dries up and falls out. Unless there is a problem with the natural process, there is usually no need to clean the inside of your ears.
When there is no ear wax
What happens when we remove ear wax? Dr Ria Emmanuel, consultant ENT at Narayana Multispeciality, Bengaluru, says that when a person takes a shower, washes hair or goes for a swim after cleaning the ears, the water that enters the ears can cause a fungal or bacterial infection. A wax lining will prevent infections.
If an ear is blocked due to use of cotton swabs the symptoms could show up as a pain in the ear, a reduced hearing ability, and the feeling of a block.
The solution
What should one do instead of using swabs? Dr Emmanuel recommends avoiding the use of cotton swabs in ears altogether. “Instead, one can use a washcloth or towel to gently clean the outside of the ears.”
If one has excessive earwax, it is advised to visit an ENT specialist to get it removed safely and professionally.
9 Responses
Is it a heredity problem ?My mother was . That time no swabs.Only cornor o clothes were use to dry ear after bath.
Dear Mr Nakhate, Thank you for informing us of your concern. While Happiest Health offers useful health information, we do not provide medical advice. If you have any worries about your ears or another health issue, you should always get professional advice from a trained ENT expert or healthcare provider.
Water entered in to ear (after bath ) I used to clear the water with bud.
Experiencing no problems.
Advice !
Dear Mr Das, Thank you for bringing up your concern. In our story, the expert advises that using a washcloth or towel can be a gentle way to clean the outer part of the ears.
Use your bath towel instead of cotton buds. Since your ear is little wet after bath , cotton can stick in. Hence towel is better.
What ever you write is true but if I want to clean the wax what is other solution because in small town the ENT specialist are few and it is difficult to wait 5\6 hours
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reaching out to us. It’s important to note that wax serves as a natural protective barrier for our ears against infections. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to clean wax from the ears on your own. If you are experiencing any issues, we strongly advise consulting an ENT specialist or physician for proper diagnosis and treatment, rather than attempting self-diagnosis or treatment.
From the time I learnt swimming, water getting into ears was natural and flowed out naturally. During bathing, i periodically gently splash water in my ears and let it remove debris which is gently wiped.
We appreciate your inquiry. It is important to note that inserting any objects into the ear, including cotton swabs or other instruments, is not recommended as it can potentially lead to infections or other complications. As our experts have mentioned in the article, ear wax actually acts as a protective layer for our ears. If you are experiencing any issues related to ear wax, we strongly recommend consulting a qualified ENT specialist or physician for proper evaluation and treatment.