Could using cotton buds cause damage to your hearing?

We produce ear wax naturally to collect and trap dirt and bacteria in our ears. Removing it isn’t necessary unless you have a large build up that is affecting your hearing. Only a hearing healthcare professional should remove this.

What is the purpose of ear wax?

Ear wax, which is sometimes known as cerumen, is beneficial for the following reasons:

• Traps dirt and dust before it gets too deep inside your ear
• Absorbs dead skin cells
• Prevents the skin inside the ear from drying out
• Stops infection and bacteria from getting into the inner ear

Ear wax is completely natural and is actually a useful function of the body.

Can cotton buds cause damage to your ears?

The quick answer is yes, cotton buds cause damage sometimes when they are inserted into your ear. If you are suffering with blocked up ears, it is instinct to want to clean them. Whilst it’s tempting to reach for a cotton bud, this could have the exact opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve. The ear wax can be pushed further into your ear making it even more difficult to remove the wax. Inserting cotton buds, or any other object for that matter, into your ear risks damaging your eardrum or ear canal.

Recently we had a patient who needed an ear wax removal procedure because he had used cotton buds. He had attempted to remove his blockage himself. What he had actually managed to do was to push the ear wax much deeper so that it was actually sitting against his eardrum.

Can I remove earwax myself at home?

Most of the time if you have a build-up of earwax, you will need to have it removed by a healthcare professional. However, if it is just a little you may be able to remove it yourself at home by using olive oil drops. These help to soften the earwax so that it will eventually fall out of your ear. It is also recommended that you use these drops before an earwax removal appointment. The best way to use them is to lie down with your head to one side for around 10-15 minutes. This will allow the oil to sink in. You should do this 3-4 times a day for 4-5 days consecutively.

If the wax you need to get rid of is just on the outer ear and you can see it, the safest way to remove it is by using a warm damp cloth. You can place you finger under the cloth and run it around your ear’s curves (on the outside only!) and it will collect any excess earwax or debris effectively. It’s important to state again at this point that inserting anything into your ear is likely to do more harm than good. Cotton buds, ear candles, tweezers and syringes are things that people regularly try to use but all could cause an infection or worse. There is no medical evidence to suggest that ear candles work.

An ear wax removal appointment

If you’ve got a more substantial wax build-up, you will need to see a hearing healthcare professional to get it removed. We offer endoscopic and microsuction earwax removal. Endoscopic wax removal is a particularly precise method of wax removal. We can also offer irrigation as a last resort if the wax is particularly tough to remove. An appointment can be done as quickly as 30 minutes, but in some cases may take up to an hour.

If you’d like to book yourself in for an ear wax removal appointment, simply give us call.