​Tips for cleaning earwax yourself

Many people have a habit of cleaning their ears whenever they want. In fact, doctors do not recommend people to do this, because frequent ear cleaning will bring a lot of bacteria into the ear canal, and sometimes it will cause damage to the ear canal due to failure to control the force of ear cleaning. However, when there is too much earwax, it still needs to be cleaned. So I'm going to introduce to you some tips on how to clean your earwax.

There is no need to clean earwax (cerumen) specifically, and ENT doctors do not encourage patients to clean their ears themselves because the skin of the external ear canal is very thin and delicate, and can easily be broken and inflamed. I am particularly against having my ears cleaned in a barber shop.

Ordinary people do not need to clean their earwax (cerumen) specifically, and ENT doctors do not encourage patients to clean their ears themselves, because the skin of the external ear canal is very thin and delicate, and can easily be broken and inflamed. It is especially against having your ears cleaned in a barber shop, as this can more easily lead to the spread of diseases such as fungal infections in the external auditory canal.

But there is a type of people who have a lot of hard earwax, just like black and hard fermented black beans. This is because the cerumen glands of such people secrete more vigorously. People like this are advised to go to the hospital regularly every 2-3 months to ask an ENT doctor for help. Otherwise, you won’t be able to take it out by yourself. Once water gets in, it’s more likely to get inflamed because it’s swollen by water, so it’s very painful and can easily cause external otitis. Therefore, this kind of people can generally clean it by themselves with a cotton swab, and there is no need to go to the hospital. If it is not very itchy, it only needs to be cleaned once 1-2 months. It depends on the individual.

If you are cleaning earwax for a child, it is best to use a cotton swab instead of a sharp ear pick, and the baby's cooperation is required. If he strongly resists, do not force him, otherwise it may damage the external auditory canal or eardrum. If you are afraid to clean it yourself, you should go to the hospital, once every six months is enough.

Removal method

1. If the tumor is small or in flake form, it can be removed with tweezers.

2. Earwax removal method using earwax hook.

3. External auditory canal flushing method. Before flushing, the earwax needs to be expanded and 5% sodium bicarbonate solution can be dripped into the ear. After 3 to 4 days, wait until it is fully or partially expanded before flushing.

4. Suction method.

5. For those with concurrent infection, the infection should be controlled first, and then the earwax should be removed after the infection is controlled.

6. Currently, departments with otoscopes can use otoscopes to suction earwax under a monitor.

The dangers of embolism

Symptoms vary depending on the extent and location of cerumen impaction. If the external auditory canal is not completely blocked, there are usually no symptoms. Complete blockage may result in hearing loss. If earwax presses on the eardrum, it can cause vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. If earwax compresses the skin of the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, it may stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and cause a reflex cough; if it expands with water, it may cause a sudden drop in hearing.