In most cases, the best way to keep the ear canals clean is to leave them alone, as some ear wax is good for the ears. However, if you have too much of it, there are some cleaning methods that are generally considered safe and that you can also try at home, such as removing earwax by proceeding from the outside and introducing the appropriate liquid; alternatively, contact your doctor.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prudent Approach
Step 1. Make sure you don't have an infection
Cleaning your ears during otitis can be very painful and is not a good idea. There may be an infection if you experience symptoms such as ear pain, foul-smelling discharge, or feel an internal buzzing. if you are concerned that you have this type of problem, talk to your doctor before trying any methods to clean your ears on your own.
Step 2. Leave the ear canals alone
Often that's really all it takes; you shouldn't pour or insert anything into your ears and you shouldn't try to scrape anything out. Human ears clean themselves and the ear wax flows into the canal to facilitate this process; therefore, in most circumstances, there is no reason to tease the inside.
- Earwax lubricates, moisturizes and offers protection to the delicate elements of the ear canal, as well as having antibacterial properties and naturally transports dirt to the outside.
- The skin and hair in the ear "guide" the earwax outward, as does chewing and other movements of the jaw.
Step 3. Do not use cotton swabs
Cotton swabs are perfect for cleaning tons of different small items, but not the ears. If you use them (or use the rolled corner of a tissue) to clean your ears, you risk pushing the earwax even deeper into the eardrum.
- More seriously, you could easily cause punctures or other damage, as the skin is thin and the inner elements of the ear are very delicate.
- Almost always ear wax gets stuck in the ear canals due to poor cleaning methods that push the dirt to the bottom.
Step 4. Clean the outside of the ears
If you want to get rid of ear wax, wait until it comes out of the ear canal. at that point, you can remove it and rub the rest of the ears with a soft, damp cloth or cotton ball. In this case, you can also use a cotton swab - which you have now stopped using for the inside - to reach all the corners and folds of the auricle.
Basically, you only have to deal with the external parts that you can see through the mirror
Step 5. Recognize the signs of an ear canal blockage
What caused by earwax is almost always due to bad habits, such as regularly inserting foreign objects into the ears - for example cotton buds, hearing aids, earphones, plugs or a stethoscope. If you start to have this disorder, you will likely use terms such as "obstruction", "full ears" or "plugged" to describe how you feel.
The accumulation of earwax on the eardrums can also cause hearing loss or even progressive hearing loss. Other symptoms of ear pressure include ear pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), internal itching, secretions that can also be foul-smelling, and seizures
Step 6. Go to the doctor to get rid of this form of blockage
In most cases, the otolaryngologist proceeds with an ear irrigation associated with manual extraction to remove the pressure caused by earwax. The procedure is minimally painful and you should notice the difference almost immediately, as well as an improvement in hearing ability.
Many symptoms of this disorder can actually also indicate otitis or other serious conditions that the specialist can diagnose and treat
Method 2 of 3: Dissolve Accumulated Earwax at Home
Step 1. Don't use ear cones
They are little more than empty paper tubes coated with wax and are supposed to be able to remove the earwax for the "chimney effect" when one end is on and the other is inserted into the ear canal. If this principle seems a bit unusual to you, rest assured that science agrees with you.
Obviously, there is no reliable evidence that these candles work in any way and there is instead plenty of evidence of negative consequences, such as burns, fires and pierced eardrums
Step 2. Choose an ear-safe liquid
If you want to try to dissolve and extract excess earwax yourself by introducing a liquid substance, you need to make sure it is a safe product, such as salt water, baby oil or (better yet) mineral oil; eventually, you can also purchase products specially designed for this purpose.
- Pay attention to the "do it yourself" methods that you find described on some websites, as you may run into unnecessary risks; for example, pouring hydrogen peroxide into the ear canal can cause severe irritation or even worse damage if you have a perforated eardrum.
- Ask your doctor if you can use a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution; this can be a great way to loosen and drain excess earwax, as long as your doctor tells you it's safe for you.
Step 3. First, you need to heat any liquid you decide to use until it reaches body temperature
If it is too cold it could upset the functionality and internal physiology of the ear, potentially causing a loss of balance, dizziness and nausea; if it is too hot, it can cause irritation or even burns.
Step 4. Pour a small amount of substance into the ear to soften the ear wax
It is sufficient to insert only a few drops of mineral oil (or some other liquid safe for this purpose) at body temperature, using a dropper or a cotton ball soaked.
- Tilt your head sideways with the ear to be treated facing upwards;
- Avoid forcing or pushing the accumulation of mucus on or near the eardrum, instead try to soften it to favor its escape; this method should not cause pain and should even be relaxing.
Step 5. Wait, fold your head to the other side and repeat the application in the second ear if necessary
Hold the position for 10 to 20 minutes, or even longer if you want, then fold the garment over a clean cloth again and let the ear wax run outward.
Method 3 of 3: Remove Excess Earwax on Your Own
Step 1. Proceed with great caution
If you have a stubborn buildup of ear wax that you can't get rid of with mineral oil, you can try to slide it out with a home method. This is the same technique used by the physician, although he has the adequate tools and capacity to proceed; do not spray too much liquid or with excessive pressure, otherwise you could cause damage to the eardrum.
Step 2. Put clean water or a salt solution into a bulb syringe
It is the same tool that is generally used to clean the nostrils of newborns; make sure the liquid is at body temperature.
Squeeze the syringe, insert the tip into the liquid and loosen the grip; in this way the substance is sucked up
Step 3. Drip the liquid into your ear
Put the syringe just inside the ear canal, being careful not to insert it too far; keep your head straight but slightly bent, so that the liquid can drain out.
- If you feel pain, stop immediately and see your otolaryngologist.
- Before attempting this method, you can always try to loosen and soften ear wax using mineral oil.
Warnings
- Never use hot oil or water to clean your ear canals.
- Make an appointment with your ENT if you are concerned about having ear infections.
