It has become a fashion, especially in high society to show off by using earbuds to clean the eardrum (usually after a shower) which is very dangerous with respect to the health of the ear and hearing. Just imagine, we pricking the sensitive eardrum with a foreign body unnecessarily, when there is no requirement. The earwax (sticky yellowish-orange substance=cerumen) is actually a natural protector for our eardrum that should not be tapered unnecessarily.
However, medical research team has found that earwax is good for the health of the ear. The best part of the earwax is that it gets cleared naturally by becoming hard and slowly travelling to the end of the ear, dropping out on its own. So, our interference is not at all necessary.
How useful is Cerumen to our ears?
Definition: Cerumen is the yellowish-orange waxy matter that we generally refer it as earwax. It is a secretion that originates near the eardrum and is like a shield to protect the delicate skin of the human ear canal. In spite of its strange appearance, cerumen is a healthy feature of our ears that has natural antibacterial features and protects against water, bacteria, fungus and accidental enter of insects into the ear canal. As it is known that cerumen comes out naturally, but if tampered by inserting a q-tip or cotton swab may push the cerumen back into the areas of the ear where it no longer belongs.
The Q-Tip Warning
It’s odd that q-tips/ cotton swabs have become so commonly used to clean the inside of our ears, especially considering that on the package itself it states:
WARNING: Do not insert swab into ear canal. Entering the ear canal could cause injury. If used to clean ears, stroke swab gently around outer surface of the ear only.
Of course I assume that a warning of this nature is primarily driven by a desire to avoid liability of any form, but given the potential danger inherent in cleaning our ears it’s also worth real consideration. Q-tips are in fact primarily created as a beauty tool and not an earwax removal device, designed to help blend and remove certain makeup’s, as well as to touch up or remove nail polish. As the package states, if used to clean the ear it should only be done outside of the canal, where the drier and almost ready to be removed cerumen tends to reside.
Important Precautions’ with respect to the eardrum
1. Never listen to high pitched music with volumes on high volumes this will cause eardrum damage and in the advance, age will lead to hearing problems.
2. If having a hearing problem please don’t shy to wear hearing aids. Not using hearing aids will further weaken your hearing problem and you may have a lot of inconveniences to listen to people without hearing aids. Best use of hearing aids. Don’t be careless.
3. Always use ear-protection devices while swimming in a pool or in the sea this will protect from water and fine sand and other foreign objects accidentally entering your ears.
4. In winter season close your ears with cotton swabs or muffler if you happen to sensitive to cold weather.
5. Do not use headphones constantly to listen to music as this has an adverse effect on the eardrum. Many people do this while jogging or waiting on the bus stand. Ears are very delicate do not misuse them.
6. If any complaints of the ears consult a doctor do not do self-medication.
7. Many people also engage unprofessional people to clean their ears; please do not ever do this they will surely damage your ears.
8. Never attempt or play with your ears or be careless, they are your valuable assets. My sincere advice, take care of them and always protect them at any cost than to regret at a later stage. Even if some emergency happens immediately consult a doctor without any delay.
