Why it’s not a good idea to clean your ears with cotton swabs
Dear Doctor: I understand that poking cotton swabs into the ear is dangerous. But how is one supposed to clean the ears otherwise? I don’t want to see goopy yellow wax in anyone’s ear canal or to have it in my own.
Dear Reader: This is a very good question – and one that poses another question: Why clean your ears?
Let’s assess the potential health benefits (or lack thereof) of doing so. This so-called wax, called cerumen, is a necessary product for the ear canal. Produced by glands under the skin, cerumen is composed of many different chemicals that mix with the skin cells that slough off within the ear canal. Cerumen moistens, cleans and lubricates the ear canal. It also acts as a barrier to dust, water and particles from the outside world. Further, cerumen creates an acidic environment within the ear canal that works against invading bacteria, even as its antibacterial enzymes and antibodies further protect the ear from bacteria.
In some instances, the tips of the cotton swabs or the cotton fibers themselves can dislodge and remain within the ear canal. The fibers then can mix with the cerumen, leading to closure of the ear canal and loss of hearing. Finally, putting a cotton swab in the ear canal can perforate the eardrum.
In short: Cotton swabs should not be used within the ear.
To sum it up, cerumen (ear wax) is necessary to lubricate and protect the ear canal from infection. Cotton swabs can be used to clean the outer ear, but – please – don’t put them inside the ear.
Robert Ashley, M.D., is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu.