Do Not Use Ear Picks

Do not use ear picks or cotton-tipped swabs! Beware, you may harm your ear!

Ear plug, ear wax

Ear wax or cerumen is normally produced in the ear by ear canal or auditory tube. It is a yellowish waxy material that protects and lubricates the skin of the ear. Moreover, it also offers protection against microbes like bacteria and fungi as well as against certain insects. However, access or impacted earwax presses against the cone shaped eardrum or tympanic membrane and may cause earwax symptoms like ear pain, itching, dizziness, decrease hearing, sensation of fullness and ringing in the ear. Earwax impaction causes conductive hearing loss.

Causes of impacted earwax

The most common cause of impacted earwax is the use of rolled napkin corners or certain kinds of ear pins or ear picks. They clean the ear superficially and press the rest of the wax deeper against eardrum causing impacted earwax symptoms. Use of hearing aids is also associated with impaction of cerumen.

Impacted earwax symptoms

The following impacted earwax symptoms may be observed by the patient:

• Blocked ear
• Ear pain
• Itching or irritation
• Dizziness or giddiness
• Decrease hearing
• Sensation of ear fullness
• Ringing in the ear

How to examine impacted earwax?

Earwax in examine with the help of auriscope or otoscope.

How to remove ear wax?

There are several methods of earwax treatment or earwax removal. Today, ear wax is first softened using softeners like sodium bicarbonate plus glycerine or carbamide peroxide plus glycerine before its removal. Then microsuction is performed that sucks and removes the softened earwax. Other methods of earwax removal include ear irrigation or ear syringing and curettage. A trained medical professional should perform these methods in order to avoid complications.

Earwax prevention

Avoid the use of cotton-tipped ear picks or cotton swabs. Consult a medical professional or ENT specialist if you have problem with your ear.

Earwax complications

• Infection
• Eardrum perforation
• Pain
• Vertigo
• Bleeding

Take home-lesson

• Do not use ear picks!
• Get your ear clean by a trained professional!

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Keywords: Ear wax, Cerumen, Ear wax removal, Ear wax causes, Ear wax symptoms, Ear picks,