Written By: Anusha Iyengar | Updated: January 8, 2016, 9:01 AM
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Do you use a cotton swab or a hairpin to clean your ears? You have no idea how much you are damaging your ears. Dr Bachi T Hathiram, professor and head, department of ENT and head & neck surgery, at Nair Hospital and ENT consultant at Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation hospital, tells us about things you must never put inside your ears and why. Read, and bookmark this post and take care of your ears.
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Cotton swabs are very popularly used to clean ears. However, you must never clean your ears with a cotton swab. According to a study[1], the most common mode of accidental penetrating ear injury is cotton-bud induced and can also lead to ear infections.
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Small cotton balls: ‘Most people either forget about it or are unable to remove it later because it’s deep inside the ear. This results in a lot of pain and ear infection,’ Dr Hathiram says.
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Hairpins: Yes, people use hairpins to clean their ears. These objects are sharp and can affect the skin of the ear canal or even the eardrum if pushed in deeply. It can result in hearing loss, and you might require surgery to repair the eardrum.
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Ear drops without prescription: Never go for over the counter drops for your ears without consulting a doctor. Using ear drops without prescription could be disastrous and can even result in deafness.
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Beads or button cells: Now this can be due to carelessness, especially with kids. Beads or button cells can get logged in the ear canal and may require a minor surgery for removal. The chemical from the button cell, if leaks out, can result in severe irreversible damage to the ear.
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Hairspray: If you are someone who loves using hairsprays or has to do it for professional reasons, make sure you protect or cover your ears to prevent the spray from getting into your ears. The amount of chemical in the hairspray can lead to infections.
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Warm/hot oil or hydrogen peroxide: Pouring warm or hot oil inside the ears to clean the wax is an age old technique that the older generation followed. However, doing this can harm your ear and cause loss of hearing.
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Pencils/pens: Putting your pencil or pen inside your ear is a common habit among some people and certainly not a good one. It can affect the skin of the ear canal, which is very delicate, and can lead to infections.
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Toothpicks: These are sharp and can cause trauma to the delicate skin of the ear canal or even the eardrum, resulting in hearing loss and ear discharge, requiring surgery to repair the eardrum.
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Fingers: Do not try to clean your ears with your fingers. If you have long nails, then refrain from putting your fingers in your ears. It can harm the ear canal and result in pain or infection.
