Self Cleaning Of Ears!!

According to recently released guidelines from the american academy of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery foundation, experts strongly discourage twirling cotton-tipped swabs or cleaning in the ears. Here’s why.

1. It’s unnecessary
The ear is self-cleaning. No routine maintenance is required. If you’re inserting swabs into your ears to remove earwax or prevent its buildup, think again. Earwax is produced within the ear canal and naturally migrates from deeper inside to outside in 6-12weeks.

2. It may be harmful
Inserting a cotton tipped swab (or anything else) into the ear can damage the ear canal or eardrum, or push earwax farther into the canal, making it harder to remove. This may cause a feeling of pressure in the ear and diminished hearing. Even worse, clumps of earwax pushed down near the eardrum can lead to painful ear infections.

3. Earwax is not a sign of poor hygiene
Here’s where there seems to be some misunderstanding. Earwax — the medical term is “cerumen” — is there for good reasons.

Among other things, cerumen is a natural moisturizer, preventing the skin inside the ear from becoming too dry traps dirt and dust before they can reach deep into the canal absorbs dead skin cells and debris prevents bacteria and other infectious organisms from reaching the inner ear.

Some people make more earwax, while others make less. The makeup of earwax varies depending on ethnicity, age, environment, and even diet. While there seems to be a certain “ick” factor associated with earwax, it’s not a reflection of uncleanliness; in fact, it’s a sign of normal, healthy ears.