How to properly clean your ears so as not to hurt yourself
Miscellaneous / / April 22, 2022
Together with the otorhinolaryngologist, we figured out how to care for the ears, when you can’t do without the help of a doctor and what you definitely can’t clean.
Should you clean your ears at all?
Wax builds up in healthy ears. This causes discomfort to many, so they try to clean them as carefully as possible. And in vain. Sulfur protectsEarwax blockage / Mayo Clinic ear canal and inner ear from drying out and water ingress, it is an excellent lubricant. Due to the acidic environment, sulfur prevents bacteria and fungi from multiplying, and also protects against dust and insects, removes dead cells from the ear.
Its normal producedS.V. Morozov. Earwax: topical issues of norm and pathology in clinical practice / Russian Medical Journal only 15-20 grams per month, and while chewing it movesEarwax blockage / Mayo Clinic to the auricle, so usually the ear canal does not require additional cleaning.
But sometimes the ears start to itch. This can happen if there is more sulfur. For example, due to skin diseases and infections of the ear canal. But more often - due to constant irritation during mechanical cleaning with cotton swabs and other objects. Therefore, it is important to start cleaning your ears properly, carefully monitor your condition and, if the problem persists, contact an otorhinolaryngologist.
When there is a lot of sulfur, it maybeEarwax blockage / Mayo Clinic clog the auditory tube - a cork forms. This is more common in children and the elderly, as well as those who have a narrow ear canal. As long as it is partially free, there are usually no symptoms. But when water gets in, sulfur swells, so people complain of hearing loss, a feeling of congestion, and a headache. Plugs must be removed.
Julia Gagina
Otorhinolaryngologist
If there is a sudden congestion and discomfort in the ear, hearing disappears or noise appears, then there is a lot of sulfur. With these symptoms, you should immediately go to Laura. And be sure to undergo a preventive examination by an otorhinolaryngologist 1-2 times a year.
How to properly clean your ears without wax plugs
Otorhinolaryngologists adviseHome Remedies: Cleaning out the earwax / Mayo Clinic clean your ears in the shower or while washing your hair. It is enough to wipe the outside of the sink with a wet finger. After that, you need to tilt your head to drain excess water, and blot your ears with a towel.
Julia Gagina
Once a week, you can use a cotton pad or cotton wool. Moisten them with water, miramistin or hydrogen peroxide solution. You need to wipe no deeper than the little finger goes - up to about 1 cm. It is better not to use various oils, boric alcohol and ear candles.
How to properly clean ears with a suspected cork
If it seems to you that the ear canal is stuffed up, it is better to contact Laura. If you are sure that this is just a cork, you can try to get rid of it. on one's own. For this enoughEarwax Buildup & Blockage / Cleveland Clinic actively chew something or use home remedies:
- hydrogen peroxide;
- almond, olive, baby, camphor or vaseline oil;
- glycerol.
To start, lie on your side with the affected ear pointing up. Instill 2-3 drops at room temperature and wait a few minutes. After that, tilt your head so that the liquid is glass. Repeat 2 times a day until the plug comes out. This may take up to two weeks.
But be careful.
Julia Gagina
I usually do not recommend dripping something into the ears without seeing a doctor. You may not notice any complication on your own. For example, if the eardrum is damaged, inappropriate drops can cause hearing loss.
If the plug does not come out, you should definitely contact an otolaryngologist.
What exactly can not be cleaned ears
The ears are not meant to be stuffed into them. Therefore doctors recommendEarwax blockage / Mayo Clinic stop cleaning:
- Cotton buds. They can drive sulfur is deeper, and because of this, a plug is formed. Also, according to Yulia Gagina, there is a risk of leaving cotton wool inside or damaging the eardrum.
- Sharp objects. Paper clips and matches can injure the eardrum or ear canal. They may also have microorganisms on them that will get into these wounds and cause an infection.
- Burning items. There are life hacks for cleaning with burning paper or ear candles, but you should not use them. Otherwise, you will have to get rid of not only sulfuric plugs, but also burns.
- Special devices, such as ear vacuums. There are two problems here. First, there are no studies proving the effectiveness of the devices. Secondly, not all of them are registered as medical devices, so it is dangerous to insert them into the ears.
When to go to the doctor
If during improper cleaning you feltEarwax blockage / Mayo Clinic sharp pain, ringing in the ears, dizziness, hearing loss or clear or bloody discharge, you need to contact an otorhinolaryngologist as soon as possible. It could be a ruptured eardrum.
You will also need medical attention if your ear hurts, your temperature rises, and you have symptoms of a cold: it may be otitis media. If the inflammation is not cured in time, you can lose your hearing.
Julia Gagina
Seek immediate medical attention if you suddenly become deaf in one ear, hear noises or squeaks. This is how sensorineural hearing loss can begin - hearing loss due to damage to the auditory analyzer. There are no guarantees of recovery, the prognosis is very dependent on rapid detection: it is better to start treatment no later than a month after the onset of symptoms.
What will the doctor do
The otolaryngologist will ask you about your condition, examine both ears and, if necessary, prescribe treatment. But if it's just a traffic jam, he will quickly and safely remove it at the reception in one of the ways.
- Ear washing. In a big syringe are recruitingInstrumental examination of the ear. Removal of foreign bodies of the ear / Methodological center for accreditation of specialists saline solution and poured into the ear, and then allowed to drain into the tray. Repeat until all impurities are washed away.
- Mechanical removal of sulfur plug. With the help of tweezers or a curette - a spoon with jagged edges - the doctor pulls out a foreign body or sulfur plug.
- Aspiration of the cork with an electric pump. It works like a small vacuum cleaner - literally pulls outEarwax blockage / Mayo Clinic ear plug.
- Cork softening. Doctor maybeEarwax Removal 101: The Best (and Safest) Ways to Clear Clogged Ears / Cleveland Clinic prescribe special ear drops that soften earwax. The composition is instilled into the ear canal and wait a few minutes. With regular use, the cork gradually softens and moves away. Such drops are prescribed to people who often have a clogged ear canal.
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- What to do if the ear is blocked
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