Is Ear Cleaning Necessary?

Everyone deserves healthy ears that provide optimized hearing. However, they are a unique organ, which is why millions of people are unsure when it comes to regular care. One of the most pertinent questions is whether ear clearing is even necessary.

Let’s take a closer inspection with the help of an audiologist.  

The self-cleaning organ

The human ear is an incredible part of the body for many reasons, and the fact that it naturally cleans itself is one of the main reasons.  

Wax and bacteria are essential for fighting infections and maintaining general health, but too much of it can cause problems. Thankfully, the new skin grows outwards, pushing wax and debris towards the outer ear. As such any hearing health provider will confirm that many people needn’t worry about internal cleaning. Not least because many of the methods, such as the use of a Q-tip, can cause more harm than good.

Cleaning the outer ear

While the ear canal can often be left untouched, the skin of the outer ear is one area that shouldn’t be overlooked. First and foremost, the buildup of dirt looks very unattractive. More importantly, though, it can increase the chances of contracting an infection or ear-related illness. Any audiologist would suggest taking greater care with this aspect of ear cleaning and health.

A gentle approach using warm water, soft soap, and a wet cloth should suffice. The lobes, helix, and other areas are quite flexible but being too rough could cause damage. On another note, anybody wearing hearing aids should be eager to take greater care with cleaning these areas.

Removing blockages

When the ear is in good health, the main job is to keep it away from potential damage caused by sharing headphones and other bad habits. From time to time, though, an imbalance of wax may lead to clogging. There are many reasons why this can happen, but fixing it fast is essential. Otherwise, temporary pain can lead to long-term hearing loss.

Home remedies can include irrigation with warm water and suitable oils. In most cases, though, an audiologist will have the right tools for the best results. In addition to cleaning, they ensure the area is suitably dry to avoid issues like swimmer’s ear.

Other signs that ears need cleaning

Blockages are just one of several problems that suggest there is an issue inside the canal or around the eardrum. Pain, discharge and bleeding are all issues that require an audiologist’s care. Likewise, headaches, tinnitus and earaches could be an indication that extra care is required.

Cleaning is only one step, though. In fact, if there is damage to the eardrum, such as perforation, cleaning could cause damage. This is yet another reason to seek expert advice rather than take matters into your own hands. Essentially, your ears are far too delicate to start self-diagnosing with potential mistakes.  

Cleaning the outside parts of the ear is important for health and appearances. As far as entering the canal is concerned, though, it’s best to leave it until an issue arises. If it feels fine, this is an indication that the body’s natural cleaning is working perfectly well. Rather than worrying about actively cleaning the ears, the better option is to focus on avoiding potential damage.