Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably well aware that it’s not safe to clean your ears with cotton swabs. You should think twice before using Q-tips For ear hygiene, you run the risk of damaging the eardrum, increasing earwax buildup, hearing loss, irritation of the sensitive skin inside the ear canals, and even infection. Simply put, there is no need for cotton tips anymore.
The fact of the matter is that most people don’t actually need to clean their ears at all. “The ear cleans out any debris, wax or particles, and the outer ear is an absolutely amazing self-cleaning system,” otolaryngologist Dr. Bradley Keyser said in an interview with the magazine. UVA Health Blog During the discussion How often should you clean your ears?.
But in case you’re someone who produces more earwax than usual, and it’s causing pain, fullness, dizziness, or ringing in the ears, there are safer alternatives, like over-the-counter earwax-softening drops or even just a plain old washcloth with soap and water. And for the love of it, leave your ear candles alone too. “Candles are both ineffective and dangerous,” said Dr. Seth Schwartz, an ear, nose and throat physician at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Center in Seattle. New York Times on The real danger behind ear candles.
How did Q-tips become synonymous with ear cleaning in the first place?
Considering all the risks associated with using cotton swabs in your ears, you’re probably wondering how they became the go-to solution for cleaning ears, anyway. As it turns out, in 1923, inventor Leo Gerstenzang was inspired after watching his wife clean her infant’s eyes, ears, and other sensitive areas with cotton wrapped around a toothpick. Enter: Baby Betty Gays, which eventually became known as the famous Q-tip.
Fortunately, cotton swabs are no longer marketed as a way to clean your ears. In the 1970s, the manufacturer began placing a label on the box to warn customers of this practice. For each brand Official websitetiny cotton swabs tied to a small, thin wooden stick are now very vaguely marketed as “the ultimate home and beauty companion.” Sure, Jan.
Unfortunately, it seems that most people still can’t let go of the cotton tip. For every a Study 2025 At Cureus, 95.6% of adults surveyed admitted to using cotton swabs in their ears. Doctors see much of the same in their practices. “People come in with issues with cotton swabs all the time,” said otolaryngologist Dr. Dennis Fitzgerald. The Washington Post. “People say they only use them to apply makeup, but we know why they use them too. They put them inside their ears.”
