I have looked into at least several hundred pairs of ears by now in my medical education, and I have seen the effects of cotton swab usage. It is pretty easy to tell by looking into someone’s ear if they are using them, because there is usually a big glob of wax packed far into the ear canal. This prompts the question to be asked about cotton swab usage. The answer is almost always “yes” – which is said with either a proud and self-gratifying air, or in a guilty and self-incriminating manner. I would say that over half of these people know that they are not supposed to use them, but do so anyway. The minority thinks that they are good for their ear health and they should use them, and find it a big surprise when I disagree.
The terrors of the cotton swab can be more complicated than just packing the wax far into the ear canal and even onto the tympanic membrane (ear drum). They can also perforate the tympanic membrane.
A study by Henry Ford Hospital published in The Laryngoscope in January 2011 proved that cotton swabs inserted into the ear canal cause tympanic membrane perforations. The study evaluated 1,540 patients with tympanic membrane perforations. Of these 1,540 patients, 54 of them had perforations caused by cotton swabs. Even though the study showed that 97% of the perforations healed on their own, some of the patients still had to undergo surgery.
Is the possibility of having surgery worth the risk of putting a cotton-tipped stick into your ear? I think not. So what should be used to clean the ears? There are several alternatives.
First of all, if you have a problem with chronic ear wax (cerumen) buildup, you may have to visit your primary care or ENT physician every few months to get them cleaned out. For most people, just wiping the outside of the ear canal with a tissue after getting out of the shower works just fine. Another way is mixing a half hydrogen peroxide and half water solution to put in the ears. Alternatively, some doctors I have worked with have recommended the over the counter solution Debrox.
Cotton swabs have loads of great uses, but are the enemy of the ear. Of course there are numerous other long, skinny materials that can become weapons when put into the ear canal, but cotton swabs are common culprits. Do your ears a favor and save the cleaning for the professionals!
Further Reading:
Sources:
Henry Ford Health System. "Cotton Swabs Prove Problematic for Ear Health." HFHS News. Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, 28 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. <http://www.henryford.com/body.cfm?id=46335>.
Smith, Matthew, Ilaaf Darrat, and Michael Seidman. "Otologic Complications of Cotton Swab Use: One Institution's Experience." The Laryngoscope (2011). Wiley Online Library, 7 Nov. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2011. <http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.22437/abstract>.
What about ear candling? Some say it is an effective alternative therapy. Are there possible ear health risks involved?
ReplyDeleteI have not tried ear candling. I have heard that it works well for some people, but possibly too well. Earwax does have importance in keeping out foreign bodies and infection and there is a downside to taking out an excessive amount of it. Also there is a risk that hot wax could drip into the ear or the ear could be burned. I have not heard of any ENT doctor recommending ear candling over the methods listed above.
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