Earwax is naturally produced in the ears, but when it is in excess it can interfere with hearing, create discomfort and increase the risk of infections. Many people use cotton swabs or cotton swabs to clean their ears, but in this way the earwax moves even deeper, with the risk of causing damage. The best method is to use hydrogen peroxide; with proper precautions, you can clean your ears with this product safely and effectively.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparations
Step 1. Visit your doctor before attempting to clean your ears at home
Earwax plays an important role in the auditory system, as it protects the ears from fungi and bacteria, and it is quite rare for it to form so much that it needs to be removed; however, if you experience ear pain, a feeling of fullness or pressure in your ear, or you lose your hearing, you should see your doctor to make sure it is excess earwax and not some other problem.
- It is safer to go to your doctor to remove it.
- If the ear problem is not due to this substance, hydrogen peroxide can actually cause more damage.
- If the doctor agrees, you can proceed with cleaning with hydrogen peroxide at home; ask for advice on the choice and use of household cleaning products useful for this purpose.
Step 2. Consider purchasing a wax removal kit
You can find this product ready in the pharmacy or parapharmacy and it is easy to use; typically, it is a mixture of earwax-softening substances, such as Debrox drops, which often contain a mild form of peroxide. The kit also often includes a bulb syringe or other tools needed for the procedure.
Step 3. Gather the material
You can use products that you already have at home; the cleaning procedure takes about 30-45 minutes; get and prepare the following material before you begin:
- An oil to soften ear wax, such as mineral, baby, olive or glycerin oil;
-
Hydrogen peroxide or a carbamide peroxide solution available in major pharmacies;
The peroxide must be diluted; make sure it is 3% or lower
- Two medium sized bowls;
- A dropper;
- A rubber bulb syringe;
- A clean towel.
Step 4. Heat the oil and hydrogen peroxide
Putting cold liquids into your ear can be uncomfortable, so you need to warm them up before using them. Fill two bowls with hot water, put the bottle of hydrogen peroxide in one of the two and the oil bottle in the other; alternatively, you can pour the oil and peroxide into two bowls and place them in very hot water.
Check the temperature of the two substances on the skin of the hand before instilling them in the ears; make sure they are hot but not hot
Part 2 of 3: Perform the Procedure
Step 1. Put yourself in the right position
Tilt your head to one side, so that the ear to be cleaned faces up. If you find it comfortable, place a clean towel under your head or on the shoulder of the side of the ear you need to treat to catch any drops that fall.
Step 2. Soften the ear wax with the oil
Pour some into the dropper and drop a couple of drops into your ear; wait for them to act for about three minutes, always keeping your head bowed.
Do not push the device too deep into the ear, but only carefully insert the tip, letting the oil run down to the eardrum
Step 3. Add warm hydrogen peroxide
Pour a small dose into the dropper and gently instill some in the same ear; let the substances act for 10 minutes.
You may experience a gurgling, itchy, or irritated sensation at this stage as the peroxide does its job; you may also hear a crackling sound
Step 4. Rinse the ear wax with warm water
When the solution stops bubbling and the time has elapsed, pour some warm water into the ear canal using the bulb syringe. Tilt your head so that your ear is above the sink, hold the syringe at a 45 ° angle and carefully spray the water into your ear; pull the pinna back and forth with the other hand to straighten the ear canal and allow the water to enter better.
Step 5. Drain the ear completely
Let water, hydrogen peroxide and oil flow out of your ear and fall into the sink or onto the towel; you should also see the ear wax coming down along with the other substances. Pull the pavilion again to allow for better drainage and let the liquid flow down, waiting for it to come out completely.
Step 6. Gently dry your ear
Use the towel for the pavilion or you can use a hair dryer set on the minimum temperature to remove moisture from the ear canal.
Step 7. Clean the other ear
Repeat the process for the other, reheating the hydrogen peroxide and oil if they have cooled in the meantime.
Step 8. Clean as many times as you think necessary
It may take several interventions to be able to dissolve the earwax just enough to completely remove it from the ear. You can try to repeat the treatment for several days, but see your doctor if your symptoms don't improve after several attempts.
- Once your ears are free, you can repeat this type of cleaning once a month.
- If you find that you often have excess earwax (but don't suffer from other ear canal disorders), you can apply the oil every week to soften and expel it. put two or three drops in each ear and run them out by adding hot water. Do not use hydrogen peroxide every week, as it tends to dry out the duct too much.
Step 9. Use peroxide weekly if you have swimmer's ear
Also known as external otitis, this disorder is an infection of the most exposed area of the ear canal (outside the eardrum) that affects many people who swim. If you also tend to have it frequently and have been diagnosed by your doctor in the past, you can occasionally clean your ears with hydrogen peroxide as a preventative method.
As a protection, you can also instill 2-3 drops of the oil in each ear before entering the pool
Part 3 of 3: Using Hydrogen Peroxide Safely
Step 1. Add mineral or baby oil to hydrogen peroxide if you have sensitive skin
This substance may be too aggressive if you have delicate skin; in fact, it dehydrates it a lot and can be irritating, especially if you tend to suffer from rashes or skin reactions. If you find that your ear canal dries up, you can add a few drops of these types of oils to make it less aggressive; however, if you don't get satisfactory results, switch to an alternative method.
You can also use just warm water or a saline solution. To prepare the latter, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in 250 ml of boiled water
Step 2. See your doctor if you have any signs of ear infection
In this case, you don't have to clean them with hydrogen peroxide, but go to the ENT to get a diagnosis and have a prescription prescribed; based on etiology, antibiotic-based drug therapy may be required.
- The main symptoms of an infection are pain in the ear canal (especially when you lie down), impaired hearing and leakage of fluids from the ears; you may also experience a feeling of fullness or pressure within the ear canals or even fever.
- Look for possible signs of infection in babies, who may cry, pinch their ears, have difficulty sleeping, hearing and responding to sounds, fever of 38 ° C or higher, lack of balance, loss of appetite or headache.
Step 3. Keep your ears clean and dry if you have a perforated eardrum
If it's punctured or torn, you don't have to put in any liquid; you may suspect it is ruptured if you experience increasing internal pressure or pain, followed by quick relief, drainage of fluid from the ears, and hearing loss. In these cases, go to the ENT immediately because, even if the problem clears up spontaneously in most cases, surgery is sometimes necessary. In the meantime, keep your ears clean and dry.
Don't use hydrogen peroxide if you have an ear or tympanostomy tube. Some people who suffer from frequent ear infections are implanted with a hollow tube in the eardrum when they are still in their infancy; if you have had any ear surgery, you must not use hydrogen peroxide
Advice
- Clean your ears after taking a hot shower when the ear wax is slightly softer.
- Do not use hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ear drops at the same time, as the former may interfere with the drug; distance the administrations by at least half an hour.
Warnings
- If using peroxide at home does not get satisfactory results, see your otolaryngologist, the ear specialist.
- Never insert any foreign object into your ears, not even a cotton swab or cotton bud; don't even try to remove the ear wax with a paper clip or pencil, or you could push it too deep and severely damage the eardrum.
- Also avoid using ear candles; there is no scientific evidence of their effectiveness and they could cause injury.
- If you find your symptoms worsening or you feel pain using hydrogen peroxide, stop using it immediately and see your doctor.
- Get a medical exam if you notice any kind of fluid leaking from your ears and if you experience severe pain.
