August 21, 2015
Put the Q-Tips Down, You've Been Cleaning Your Ears the Wrong Way
For most of your life, you've probably seen Q-tips as the perfect tool for cleaning the wax out of your ears. But have you never noticed that more times than not, there's little to no wax on the cotton swab?
The problem with this tool is that it's not actually meant to be used for cleaning your ears out. In fact, cotton swabs actually work against you, pushing the wax farther into your ear canal and causing more buildup. Not to mention that a natural amount of ear wax is a good thing, as it has antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. Too much cleaning can result in ear infections and eczema in the outer ear.
Dale Tylor, M.D., a pediatric and general otolaryngologist at Washington Township Medical Foundation in Fremont, CA says you should give up on the Q-tips altogether and opt for a safer and more effective treatment, like an oil and hydrogen peroxide routine. Try filling an eyedropper once a week before you go to sleep with olive, mineral, or baby oil. You can give yourself up to three drops inside each ear. Make sure to coat your ear canal by massaging the triangle of cartilage covering your ear. Avoid mess by soaking up the excess with a cotton ball. When you wake up the next morning and hop in the shower, put hydrogen peroxide on your hand and rub it into your ear. This will bubble up and take the now softened wax with it.
Have you made the switch from Q-tips to the oil and hydrogen peroxide method?
Source: Greatist
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The problem with this tool is that it's not actually meant to be used for cleaning your ears out. In fact, cotton swabs actually work against you, pushing the wax farther into your ear canal and causing more buildup. Not to mention that a natural amount of ear wax is a good thing, as it has antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. Too much cleaning can result in ear infections and eczema in the outer ear.
Dale Tylor, M.D., a pediatric and general otolaryngologist at Washington Township Medical Foundation in Fremont, CA says you should give up on the Q-tips altogether and opt for a safer and more effective treatment, like an oil and hydrogen peroxide routine. Try filling an eyedropper once a week before you go to sleep with olive, mineral, or baby oil. You can give yourself up to three drops inside each ear. Make sure to coat your ear canal by massaging the triangle of cartilage covering your ear. Avoid mess by soaking up the excess with a cotton ball. When you wake up the next morning and hop in the shower, put hydrogen peroxide on your hand and rub it into your ear. This will bubble up and take the now softened wax with it.
Have you made the switch from Q-tips to the oil and hydrogen peroxide method?
Source: Greatist
Do you follow us on Instagram?
[caption id="attachment_105894" align="alignnone" width="100"]
@BodyRockTV[/caption]