Why Using Q-Tips To Clean Ears Is Dangerous

Using Q tips or cotton swabs to clean one’s ears has the potential to do more harm than good.

In a case report published on BMJ Journals, an otherwise healthy adult male was brought to the emergency room due to seizures caused by a part of a cotton bud that has been left behind in his ear for years.

In the report, the man had been complaining about some hearing loss and intermittent pain in his left ear for five years but didn’t pay any mind to it. This was until he was brought to the hospital for seizures, confusion and altered state of consciousness. A CT scan on his head revealed an infection called Pseudomonas aeruginosa caused by pus-filled abscesses in his brain from the discharge on his left ear.

Upon further examination, the doctors discovered a fragment of a Q tip stuck in his head. Fortunately, they were able to get rid of the infection but not after eight weeks of heavy antibiotics. The proponents of the case report said that this should be taken as a strong reminder that cotton buds do not belong in the ears, even if the intention is to clean them.

In fact, the American Academy of Otolaryngology said in its latest official guidelines that the ear canal should be left one, clarifying that earwax does not cause any symptoms. This does not just apply to Q tips, but also syringes with water and ear candling. Cotton buds will do nothing but push wax further into the ear canal because they are too big and blunt to scoop the dirt out. Plus, earwax is there for a reason and that is to prevent dirt and dust from entering further.

The AAO also notes that the ears are naturally self-cleaning, such as through jaw motions, chewing and the growth of new skin. Earwax will just eventually fall away when you’re in the shower or flake off. That said, there’s no reason to tamper with your ears. In special cases, however, when there is too much or a blockage, the best bet is to use ear drops or visit a doctor to have it removed.