Ear Wax (cont.)
Is it OK to use Q-tips?
Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! Wax is not formed in
the deep part of the ear canal near the eardrum, but only in the outer part of
the canal near the external opening. So when a doctor sees that a patient has
wax pushed up against the eardrum, he or she knows that it is often because the
patient has been probing his or her ear with such things as Q-Tips, bobby pins
or twisted napkin corners! Such objects only serve as ramrods to push the wax
deeper into the ear and can lead to problems.
The skin of the ear canal and the eardrum is very
thin and fragile, and is easily injured. The ear canal is more prone to
infection after it has been whipped clean of the "good," coating-type wax.
Doctors see many perforated eardrums as a result of the above efforts. Some
doctors recommend the use of two drops of mineral oil in each ear one day per
week at bedtime to help liquefy ear wax in people who have a history of
recurrent problems with ear wax. This should only be done if the individual has
an intact eardrum and no other known problems with their ears.
Previous contributing author: James K. Bredenkamp, MD, FACS
Last Editorial Review: 3/25/2009
- carbamide peroxide-otic, Auro, Debrox, Murine Earwax Drops - Consumer information about the medication CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE - OTIC (Auro, Debrox, Murine Earwax Drops), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE - OTIC.
- Otitis Media - Learn more about otitis media and how this acute or chronic middle ear infection, that mostly affects children, is caused, diagnosed and treated on MedicineNet.com
- Swimmer's Ear - Read about swimmer's ear (external otitis or otitis externa), an infection of the skin covering the outer ear, including prevention tips, symptoms, causes and treatment (ear drops) for chronic, acute infections of the outer ear canal.
Latest Medical News
Hearing RSS