Cleaning the ear is something that we do naturally without really giving any thought to it. After all, who wants have dirty ears. But, did you know that it is actually good to have a bit of earwax. However icky and disgusting that sounds, earwax is something that the ears need. What we perceive as cleaning, is actually not cleaning. Yes, q tips actually make the ears less clean. This is because the presence of earwax is what keeps the ear clean, and lowers the risk of deafness and infection.
The brown or yellow stuff that is found inside the ears is known as Cerumen in scientific terms. The gland lining in the outer canal of the ears produce it, and earwax is not a built up of debris and bacteria s we falsely believe. It is a defense mechanism of the ear that protects the inner ear from dead skin, dirt and microbes that try to invade the ear. These get stuck on the wax and cannot make their way inside. The ear wax also contains a high content of saturated fatty acids which fights off bacteria. The skin stays well lubricated by the cerumen which in reduces itchiness and prevents dry spots.
We should keep our ears unclean? Have visibly dirty ear? Well, definitely not. What we need to know is that ears have the ability to clean themselves up. So whenever we talk, chew or move our jaws, the ear wax built up reaches the outer portion of the ear. This extra bit which is visible should be cleaned with a wash cloth. What we must not do, is dig deep with the Q tip! So there is no need to worry about having ears that look dirty.
It can be really damaging to totally get rid of the earwax. Also, too much of fiddling around with the Q tip can damage the eardrums. Poking around too much inside the ear can also cause the cerumen to get pushed inside. And this is definitely a bad idea. If ear wax reaches the interiors of the ear, there’s no way it can be cleaned without a visit to the doctor. And the accumulation inside the canal can lead to infection or deafness. Many a times, it can also cause a terrible buzzing in the ear. It is also interesting to note, that an ear totally devoid of earwax is a good place for bacteria to thrive and grow. Running a cotton stab further complicates things. This is because it could lead to small cuts or tears. And this proves to be the ideal ground for bacteria to multiply.
So if Q tips and cotton swabs are to be kept away, how do we keep the ear clean? Good ear hygiene can be promoted by using a wash cloth instead; preferably warm. This can very nicely remove the extra built up of ear wax. If you feel there is a built up of wax in your ear then you might just want to visit the doctor, don’t take chances if you have itchiness, hearing loss, discharges, earaches etc. And definitely do not go about sticking anything into the ear, whether it is a pencil, bobby pin or finger!
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