Say “No” to Cotton Swabs, in your Ear!

June 15th, 2012

Cotton swabs commonly known as Qtips are very practical for applying makeup and craft projects, but they should never be used to clean the ear canal. The diameter of each cotton swab is the same as the ear canal. While you may think you are “scraping” the earwax out with the cotton, the earwax you see on the swab is likely only on the surface. You are likely pushing a larger amount of wax deeper in the canal. Worse yet, a piece of the cotton swab can become lodged in the canal, which may require a trip to your doctor for removal.  In addition, the skin in the ear is very delicate and sensitive. Any small abrasion caused by the cotton swab can easily get infected and cause severe pain.

If you suffer from excessive ear wax that is bothersome, you may need to purchase an ear cleaning solution and a bulb syringe to flush the ear with warm water afterward.  Some people use cotton swabs to dry their ears after showering or swimming. A better idea would be to use your hair dryer on a low heat setting aimed at your ear.