Ear Care Review
Many symptoms related to the ears arise due to problems with care of the outer ear and ear canal. Our physicians will discuss your particular concern after carefully examining the ears and all related areas. This material will provide general guidance for you on safe and appropriate care of the ears.
Options for Safe Ear Care
For most of us, the ears (like our eyes) are effective in cleaning and caring for themselves. Certain additional care can be carried out safely, either when recommended by our physicians or at your own option.
- It is safe and usually effective to leave the ears alone. The normal thin layer of cerumen (wax) that forms lubricates and protects, and the ears successfully clean themselves.
- Cleaning or soothing of the ears may be performed safely by using appropriate liquids, placed in the ear canal with an eye dropper (eye dropper bottles may be obtained from the pharmacy), provided you do not have a hole in your eardrum or a ventilation tube. It is safe to use:
- Mineral oil
- Baby oil
- Peroxide
- Debrox (over-the-counter medicine that combines oil and peroxide)
- Cerumenex
- Murine
- Drying of the ears (after bathing or swimming) may be performed safely by using plain rubbing alcohol, placed in the ear canal with an eye dropper (eye dropper bottles may be obtained from the pharmacy), provided you do not have a hole in your eardrum or a ventilation tube.
Avoid the Following Care
The ears (like our eyes) are delicate sense organs. The skin of the ear canals is extremely thin and sensitive. It reacts poorly to rubbing or irritation. At all times, please avoid cleaning or manipulating the outer ears and ear canals with any solid object that is "smaller than your elbow". This includes avoiding:
- Bobby pins, tooth picks, pens, pencils, erasers, and other small objects
- Cotton swabs (i.e. Qtips)
- Fingers and finger nails
Please feel free to ask your physician any questions about ear care or hearing.
