A Waring About Ear Candles
The recent popularity of ear candles is quite troubling. Ear candles are marketed and sold to the public as a means of treating earwax buildup by removing earwax from the ears. It is important to note, however, that the Food & Drug Administration has issued warnings to consumers that ear candles may not be safe to use.
The process of ear candling involves inserting a lit hollow candle into the ear, with the notion that suction created by the burning candle will draw earwax out of the ear canal. These candles can result in injury to the ear and the face including:
- Burns
The Development Of Earwax
The medical term for earwax is cerumen , which comes from cera, Latin for wax. It starts as a mixture of fatty secretions from the sebaceous glands and sweat glands in the walls of the outer ear canal . Jaw movement from chewing or talking helps propel those secretions through the canal to the ear opening, where they dry up and harmlessly flake off.
Soften Earwax Blockages With Oil
Earwax is an oil-like substance. Thus, some oils can cause earwax to soften when the two substances come into contact. Proponents of this remedy suggest using the following oils:
- baby oil
- olive oil
To use oil for earwax removal:
Read Also: What Can You Use To Clean Newly Pierced Ears
Vinegar With Rubbing Alcohol
This is one of the traditional remedies for removing hardened earwax from the ear. The alcohol will serve as the drying agent so that it will evaporate once it reaches the ear. On the other hand, the vinegar will be useful in killing the fungi and bacteria that may be causing the infection of the ear.
- You need to prepare white vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a bowl.
- You can soak a cotton ball in the solution.
- Tilt your head with the affected ear facing the ceiling as you drop the solution into your ear.
- Allow the solution to stay inside your ear for about 5 minutes.
- Tilt your head again but this time going towards the floor as you allow the solution to drain out.
- You may start to see the earwax that caused the blockage to stay near the front portion of the ear.
Warm Cloth: Home Remedy For Clogged Ears
A simple warm cloth can also be helpful if youre struggling with plugged ears. You can use it either dry or wet, depending on what makes you more comfortable.
What to do:
- Take a cloth. Iron it or put it in the sunlight so that it gets warm.
- Put this warm cloth underneath the affected ear.
- Else, heat some water and soak a cloth in it.
- Squeeze the excess water and keep the cloth on the affected ear for 5 minutes.
- Rub your affected ear with your palm, roughly.
- Put your palm on the clogged ear very tightly and then, push it out just like a suction cup. You will notice that your ear is unclogged.
Also Check: Can Sound Machine Cause Hearing Loss
Is Ear Candling Safe
Ear candling involves placing a hollow candle in the ear canal and burning it to create a suction force for the removal of wax from the ears.
According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, ear candling or ear coning is not considered a safe option for ear wax removal.
- Studies have shown that the procedure does not create a vacuum that can remove the wax effectively, and the wax left inside the candle is from the candle itself, not from the ear.
- The procedure also carries health risks that include burns to the ear canal, the development of new blockage of the canal from the candling wax, ear infection, and perforation of the eardrum.
Many people will respond to treatment with natural and home remedies, for example:
Some people may also be hypersensitive to products designed to soften earwax. Therefore, if pain, tenderness, or a local skin rash develops, the use of these drops should be discontinued.
Ear Irrigation With Warm Water
Ear irrigation is typically performed by a doctor, but you can try it at home too, provided you are well adept with the proper technique and have your doctors approval.
The controlled, pressurized flow of water helps direct the softened wax toward the opening of the ear, from where it may naturally drain out or may be removed using a cotton swab, tissue, or soft, clean cloth.
Directions:
Caution: People with poorly controlled diabetes or a compromised immune system should avoid this procedure as they are highly likely to develop an outer ear infection after it.
Don’t Miss: Why Do You Have Ear Wax
How To Safely Remove Earwax
Many people decide to take earwax build-ups into their own hands instead of seeing a specialist, quoting safe methods of earwax removal found on the internet. These include olive oil and various other techniques.
But do these hacks work? Does olive oil dissolve earwax? Though heating a few drops and then putting it into your ear might soften your earwax it will not dissolve it. This still leaves you having to use a cotton bud or other object to remove the oil and earwax from your ear, risking damage to the ear canal, amongst other things.
So if youre struggling with your hearing because of an earwax build-up and wondering how to remove earwax safely, we advise you not to use home remedies. Leave it to the professionals and dont take any unnecessary risks.
Home Remedies For Ear Wax Removal That Really Work
Wax in our ears serves important functions such as the bodys defensive mechanism. It traps dirt as well as foreign particles and it inhibits the growth of bacteria. The wax prevents damages to our inner ear like the eardrum. Removing earwax constantly should be avoided but sometimes it is good to get rid of excess wax in order to reduce ear blockage.
- Narrowing of the ear canal
- Less production of cerumen
- Over production of cerumen, usually due to trauma or the blockage of the ear canal.
You May Like: How Do You Say Think In Sign Language
Cleaning Your Ears With Liquid Solutions
Tip: Use water thats as close to your body temperature as possible. Using water thats cooler or warmer than your body can cause vertigo.XTrustworthy SourceMedlinePlusCollection of medical information sourced from the US National Library of MedicineGo to source
What Causes Earwax Buildup
Some people are simply prone to producing excessive earwax. Overproduction of earwax does not always lead to blockage, but when it does it can be quite uncomfortable, or even painful. The most common cause of earwax blockage is a failed attempt at at-home earwax removal.
Using cotton swabs, bobby pins, or other foreign objects in an attempt to clean your ears or remove earwax often does more harm than good. Additionally, frequent use of headphones can promote earwax buildup and the pressure from heavy use can result in blockage.
Don’t Miss: Can Bppv Cause Ringing In The Ears
Mullein Oil For Earwax
Image: Shutterstock
- Cheesecloth
What You Have To Do
How Often You Should Do This
Use this remedy once every month for clean ears.
Why This Works
Mullein flowers, if infused in oil, can be helpful to remove earwax. And as they have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory attributes, they will also help fight any infection that may be present .
Natural Home Remedies For Removal Ear Wax
1. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a mixture of water and extra oxygen, which is good for softening the wax. It is an excellent ear disinfectant, which will keep your ear from all sorts of infections. The remedy is simple and the procedure does not take long. Mix equal amount of hydrogen peroxide and water and soak the cotton ball inside the solution. Pour the solution inside by squeezing the cotton, wait for some time and then tilt your head on the opposite direction in order for the solution to drain off your ear.
2. Saline Water/Salt
Hard earwax is difficult to fall off but with saline water, which contains ingredients that will soften the wax can help get rid of it for sure. Mix salt and water. Tilt your head sideways and pour saline solution inside using soaked cotton ball. Remain in that position for sometime in order for hard wax to soften then tilt your head in different direction in order for the wax to come out with saline water.
3. Olive Oil
Olive oil contains effective ingredients responsible for softening hard wax in the ears. You can get olive oil from any grocery store nearby. You should apply fresh olive oil because it contains bactericidal properties, which helps with fighting infection. Fill the dropper with warm olive oil, pour the drops inside your ear and relax for some time before draining it off. If your wax is so hard, repeat it for 2 weeks for better results.
4. Baby Oil
5. Glycerin
6. Garlic Oil
7. Prepare Mullein Oil
9. Coconut Oil
Read Also: What Is Best Hearing Aid Brand
Where Wax Comes From
Dead skin and other debris combine with secretions from sebaceous and modified sweat glands to create earwax.
Earwax that picks up a lot of debris or sits in the ear canal for a long time can get hard and dry, so it’s more likely to cause a blockage. Conditions that produce a lot of dry, flaking skin, like eczema, can also result in hard earwax. And with age, the glandular secretions change consistency, so they don’t travel as easily through the ear canal.
Some people are simply born producing dry earwax that may be more likely to clump. For example, dry earwax is more common in East Asians.
Sorry But Experts Say You Should Not Be Using Earwax Removal Kits
Videos for these products are soaring in popularity on social media, but doctors recommend cleaning your ears in a much less invasive way
Ah, TikTok, home of makeup tutorials, lip-syncing tunes, cute animal content andearwax removal videos?
Yes, its true: That goopy amber stuff on your For You page is coming out of someones ear canal. And if you find that youre weirdly into it, youre not alone.
Earwax removal content is soaring in popularity on TikTok the hashtag #earwax has racked up thousands of videos, collectively reaching 8.1 billion views . The content ranges from in-office extractions performed by ear, nose, and throat doctors to at-home videos of people using various tools to get the sticky stuff out.
But its more than just a fad. According to a report on hearing by the World Health Organization, some 10 percent of children and 5 percent of adults have impacted earwax. And over 50 percent of older adults may be affected. Impacted earwax can affect hearing, and its even more pronounced in those who may be experiencing other forms of hearing loss.
All of this adds up to a boom in earwax removal productsand the options seem endless.
Theres the Axel Glade Spadea tiny spade equipped with a camera that allows users to watch via an app on their phone as they scoop the wax from the ear canal. There are irrigation kits that are purported to flush the earwax out. Or you could try to flush your ear canal out with a syringe instead.
Don’t Miss: How Often Should Hearing Aid Filters Be Changed
How To Use Ear Drops To Clear Out Ear Wax In 7 Steps
Lin says that ear drops work immediately after use, though they may require a few tries to remove especially stubborn ear wax.
While there is limited published evidence on the effectiveness of drops, one study suggests that using them for five days is more likely to completely clear the excessive wax than no treatment at all.
How To Unclog Ears At Home With Alcohol And Vinegar
This combination is an easy solution. Just after you apply it, you will feel immediate relief, and your plugged ear canal will get unplugged.
What to do:
- Take one part of alcohol and one part of vinegar. Mix them together.
- Lie down and put a few drops in your affected ear with the help of a dropper.
- Place a cotton pad in your ear, and do not raise your head.
- Let the solution work.
We recommend White House White Distilled Vinegar.
Don’t Miss: How To Clear Ears When Sick
The Side Effects Of Excessive Earwax
But for many people, earwax is manifestly too much of a good thing. An ear canal plugged up with earwax can cause earaches, infections, and other problems. If it gets lodged in a certain way, earwax can cause a cough by stimulating the branch of the vagus nerve that supplies the outer ear. And, not surprisingly, an excess of earwax can result in some loss of hearing.
Guidelines from the American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery stress a let-it-be attitude toward earwax and warn against removal unless the earwax is causing a problem. Of course, sometimes it’s difficult to tell if the wax is the source of a problem without removing it and seeing whether the problem goes away.
Use Food Grade Coconut Oil Olive Oil And Mineral Oil Which Can Soften Your Ear Wax
Also, an ear bulb aspirator will make it easier to remove ear wax.
1. Slightly warm 1-3 teaspoons of oil, make sure oil is not too hot.2. Lay on your side or with the problem ear facing up.3. Put a few drops of the warmed oil into your ear canal.4. Allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes waiting longer usually produces better results. Turn your body around, so the treated ear is now facing down with a towel underneath it. Allow your ear to drain and clean your outer ear from any wax or oil.
Garlic extra virgin olive oil
Instructions:1. Warm 1-2 tbsp. of olive oil in a glass container2. Crush 1 clove of garlic for every tablespoon of oil and place in oil. Mix well and let it sit for 30 minutes then drain.3. Warm the garlic-infused oil4. Lie on your side with a towel under your head. The ear that needs to be cleaned from wax should be facing up.This remedy is my favorite for removing ear wax because garlic also kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi if present in-ear.
You can Prevent Ear Wax Buildups.
You May Like: How To Fix An Ear Infection In Adults
How To Prevent Excess Earwax Buildup
Here are some tips to prevent excessive buildup of earwax.
- When taking a shower, run some water into your ear to keep it moist. This can prevent the building up of earwax and also prevents the earwax from getting dry.
- Please avoid using any pointy objects inside your ears, as it can cause infections when the wax is pushed deeper.
- Do not use cold water when draining out excess water.
- Do not insert cotton swabs into the ear canal. Remove the exposed ear wax at the opening to avoid pushing the ear wax deeper.
- As much as possible, do not use candle ear wax remover. Ear candles can be dangerous as you have to hold the lighted candle close to your ear!
- Ensure that your body is getting enough omega-3 acids that are good for the health and important to stop the earwax problem.
- Do not use HOT oil inside the ears to burn the skin can cause an ear infection.
- Lessen the consumption of dairy products.
- After using the home remedies mentioned above and the problem persists, consult a doctor.