Good Lifestyle

Ear wax can be uncomfortable and unsightly, but it serves an important function in your body by helping to Protect your ear canals infection, humidity, wounds and foreign objects. It also helps clean your ears, explains Amy Sarow , Aud, A doctor in audiology and a member of the Advisory Council for the Health of Forbes.

"The ear is self-cleaning. It works like a natural rolling carpet belt, pushing wax and debris to the outside towards the entrance to the auditory duct," she said Better life . "When we introduce a foreign object like a Q-TIP in the ear, several unwanted consequences can occur."

These consequences, she says, often come in the form of injuries, as cotton tips can inflict serious damage to the eardrum and ear bones. Read the rest to learn the three things that can happen when you clean your ears with a Q -TIP - and what to do instead.

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It may seem counter-intuitive, but Sarow says that cotton swabs often grow wax in your ears rather than removing excess debris. It warns that if you regularly repel waxing in the ear canal, "it can accumulate and cause an impaction of wax".

The impaction is a common problem that occurs when wax accumulates in the ear canal. It is particularly common in the elderly , since the ear tends to become more difficult in texture as we age, according to Cedars Sinai. Symptoms of the impaction of wax include hearing loss, ear pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears or a feeling of fullness in the ears.

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Sarow also warns that cotton swabs are known to cause injury, especially when used to deeply dig into the ear canal. "I brought patients into the office who were surprised when using Q-Tips, then accidentally perforated their eardrum," she said.

Often, patients will clean up their ears in anticipation of an appointment with their doctor or their hearing specialist, explains Sarow. She says it is "generally apparent as evidenced by fresh injuries in their ear canals when examining their ears with an otoscope. The aggressive use of the cotton swabs can cause bleeding or irritation, which May lead to an infection, "warns the overlect. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Another current consequence of using cotton swabs to eliminate the ear cash register is that it can cause itching. "The tests have shown that [ear wax] has antibacterial and antifungal properties. If your ears I don't have enough ear dishes , they probably have itching and uncomfortable, "said Harvard Health Publishing .

Sarow notes that generally, having enough wax in your ears is important to preserve the right amount of humidity in ear canals. "Remove too much wax or push it further into a concentrated area can cause drought and irritation," she warns.

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Although some experts say that it is normal to carefully use a cotton swab to clean the outside of your ears, you should never use them to dig deeply inside the ear dungeon.

Instead, Allergy and entry Recommend a safer alternative: use a damp toilet glove. "All you have to do is use a hot and humid toilet glove and clean the outer part of your ear," suggest their experts. "Once you are finished, use another toilet glove to dry your ears. Using a toilet glove for your ears is a good proactive way to keep your ears clear and prevent an ear infection . "

If after that, excess wax continues to cause discomfort, altered hearing or other symptoms, it's time to speak with your doctor.