Heed the Warning on the Box: Don’t Use Q-Tips to Clean Out Your Ears
Key takeaways:
Using a cotton swab, or a Q-tip, to clean your ear can rupture your eardrum.
In normal amounts, earwax is an important layer of protection for your ear.
If you have hearing loss, itching, dizziness, or pain due to wax buildup, it is time to see your doctor.
Earwax can be pesky. In some cases, too much earwax can cause hearing problems, itching, dizziness, and discomfort. But it’s a myth that you need to routinely clean out your ears. In most cases, earwax is actually healthy and protective for the ear. Earwax helps protect against infections, dry skin, and unwanted dirt and debris. When you use cotton swabs, also known as Q-tips, you can accidentally damage your ears. In fact, the most common cause of eardrum rupture is from trauma, like using cotton swabs or other instruments in your ear. Read on to learn more.
What are the dangers of using a Q-tip to clean your ears?
Many people use cotton swabs to clean their ears. But the truth is: It’s not safe. Using cotton swabs or other instruments at home to clean your own ears can cause serious problems, like those listed below.
Rupturing the eardrum: The most common cause of eardrum rupture is injury to the ear. This typically occurs from using cotton swabs or other instruments in the ear at home. Not only is rupturing the eardrum painful, but it can also lead to hearing loss and infections.
Infection: Using a cotton swab in your ear can introduce different bacteria, dust, and dirt into your ear and lead to ear infections.
Pain: Even if you don’t fully rupture your eardrum with the cotton swab, you can cause other forms of damage in the ear like scratches and inflammation. Cotton swabs also tend to push wax further into the ear canal, which actually makes the discomfort worse.
Getting material stuck in the ear: Cotton material from cotton swabs can also get lodged and stuck in the ear. This can cause hearing loss, infections, and discomfort. You will also likely need a doctor’s visit to remove it.
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What do ear specialists think about using Q-tips to clean your ears?
Experts recommend you avoid the use of cotton swabs in your ears. The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery explains that the use of cotton-tipped swabs or other home instruments pose a serious risk of damage to the eardrum and ear bones.
Instead, they recommend visiting your doctor for an assessment if you experience uncomfortable symptoms:
Ear fullness
Hearing loss
Discomfort
Itching
The feeling of too much wax buildup
Your doctor will be able to look inside the ear and safely remove the wax.
How often do you need to clean earwax from your ears?
Most people do not need to routinely clean earwax from their ears. Our ears are normally “self-cleaning.” Our earwax traps dirt and debris and is slowly pushed to the outer ear, where it dries and falls out on its own. This helps prevent particles from getting in our ears and also prevents infection.
What is earwax or cerumen impaction?
Some people may be at a higher risk for abnormal wax buildup that causes blockage, hearing loss, and discomfort. This is called cerumen impaction. You may be at a higher risk for cerumen impaction if you are older, wear hearing aids, or have a history of cerumen impaction already.
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How to safely remove earwax without a Q-tip
OTC drops: Over-the-counter alcohol or peroxide-based ear drops may help to prevent excessive wax buildup and are generally considered to be safe when used as directed.
Hydrogen peroxide: Used in small drops in the ear, it can help break down hardened wax so that it comes out on its own.
Mineral oil: Studies have shown that mineral and olive oil used in small drops in the ear can help soften wax.
Stay around the outer ear: Using a tissue around the outer ear is considered safe, as long as you do not go into the actual ear canal.
Visit your provider: Your provider can safely remove your earwax buildup for you with a special tool designed for the job. Sometimes this also involves using water or saline to rinse the ear.
Are there other home treatments I should avoid?
Otolaryngology practice guidelines recommend against candling. Candling has led to serious injuries including eardrum rupture, burns, and blocking the ear canal entirely with wax. There are no good studies to support the safe use of candling, and the risks greatly outweigh the benefits.
What happens if you don’t clean your ears?
Most people won’t experience any symptoms or problems if they don’t clean their ears. This is because your ears are generally self-cleaning. Your body uses earwax for protection, and then is able to get rid of it appropriately on its own.
The bottom line
Many people routinely clean their ears with cotton swabs. But this is not recommended and is usually unnecessary. Earwax protects against dirt, debris, and infections. Our ears then shed the earwax on their own. You can seriously damage your eardrum by using cotton swabs or other home instruments to clean your ears, and you can cause hearing loss, bleeding and pain, and bad infections. If you experience discomfort, hearing loss, dizziness, itching, or think you have an abnormal wax buildup, your medical provider can help.
Why trust our experts?
References
Dolhi, N., et al. (2021). Tympanic membrane perforations. StatPearls.
ENThealth. (n.d.). Are ear candles a safe option for removing earwax? American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.
ENThealth. (2018). Earwax (cerumen impaction). American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). (2020). Outer ear infection: What helps if earwax builds up? InformedHealth.org.
Michaudet, C., et al. (2018). Cerumen impaction: Diagnosis and management. American Family Physician.
UTHealth Houston McGovern Medical School. (n.d.). Ear anatomy schematics.
