American health experts are urging the public to stop using cotton buds to clean inside their ears, warning that the popular habit is doing more harm than good.
According to Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, a board-certified otolaryngologist in Ohio, cotton swabs are not designed for ear cleaning and are often the root cause of serious ear problems.
“They really weren’t made to clean your ears,” she said. “Most people don’t realize that using them can push the wax further in and cause impaction, pain, or even a ruptured eardrum.”
Farmer explained that the ear is a self-cleaning organ. Through natural jaw movement and skin shedding, earwax slowly migrates to the outer ear on its own.
Interfering with this process by inserting objects like cotton swabs can not only block the ear canal but can also damage its delicate structures.
“Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear,” she added, repeating a common phrase used by ENT specialists.
Cotton buds-related injuries are surprisingly common.
A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics reported that more than 260,000 children in the United States were treated in emergency rooms over a 20-year period due to ear injuries caused by cotton swabs.
In adults, injuries range from mild irritation to eardrum perforations and infections that require antibiotics or surgical intervention.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery has also updated its guidelines, strongly advising against using cotton buds or any small object to remove earwax.
The organization recommends leaving earwax alone unless it is causing symptoms like hearing loss, ringing, or fullness — in which case professional removal is advised.
Dr. Farmer suggests that individuals experiencing wax buildup try safer alternatives, such as over-the-counter ear drops to soften wax, or gently rinsing the ear canal with warm water using a rubber bulb syringe.
However, she warns that these methods should be used carefully and discontinued if discomfort occurs.
Ultimately, she says, the best approach for most people is simple: “Let your ears do what they’re made to do. In most cases, no intervention is necessary at all.”
Health experts continue to stress that while cotton swabs may seem harmless, using them inside the ear canal risks unnecessary injury.
For those with ongoing ear issues, the safest solution remains professional medical care.
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