Stop Cleaning Your Ears - You May Be Causing the Problem

If your ears itch, feel blocked, or seem to need constant cleaning, the cleaning itself may be part of the problem. 

Many people use Q-tips, hydrogen peroxide, ear-cleaning tools, or even small cameras because they assume earwax means their ears are dirty. But earwax — medically called cerumen — has a purpose, and the ear canal has its own natural self-cleaning system. 

In this episode, Dr. Albert Takem explains why repeatedly cleaning inside the ear can create a cycle of dryness, irritation, itching, and even impacted wax. 

We discuss: 

•  Why earwax is not simply dirt 
•  How the ear naturally moves wax outward 
•  Why Q-tips can push wax deeper into the ear canal 
•  How repeated cleaning can contribute to dryness and itching 
•  Why a blocked or full feeling does not always mean there is wax to remove 
•  When hydrogen peroxide and wax-softening products may or may not be appropriate 
•  What you should actually clean — and what you should leave alone 
•  When ear pain, drainage, bleeding, hearing changes, or persistent symptoms need medical evaluation 

For most people, ear cleaning should be simple: clean the outside, wipe away wax that naturally reaches the opening, and leave the ear canal alone.
 
Sometimes the thing you are doing to keep your ears “clean” may be creating the irritation you are trying to fix.
 

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