The Risks of Using Cotton Buds on Your Ears (And Safer Alternatives)

In short, using cotton buds or Q-tips to clean your inner ear can be dangerous, and even cause long-term damage. But don’t worry, there are much safer methods out there to help you clean your ears!

The safest method is to visit a professional - you can book an appointment to visit our ear specialist Jason by clicking this link.

Read on to find out why you shouldn’t use cotton buds or Q-tips to clean your ears, and what you can do instead.

What is a Q-tip?

A Q-tip, or cotton bud, is a small stick originally made from plastic (but this is gradually being phased out in favour of paperboard or bamboo), with cotton swab on each end. They can be found in any pharmacy, cosmetic store or supermarket, usually in the baby products aisle.

What are Q-tips ACTUALLY for?

Most cotton bud packaging will have a warning against using them in your inner ear canal, and so you may be wondering what you should actually be using them for. Cotton buds are useful tools for a wide range of practical uses that won’t damage your ears:

●      Cleaning of the outer ear surface

●      Cleaning babies

●      Cleaning in small spaces around your home, such as computer keyboards

●      Applying and removing makeup or nail polish

●      Arts & crafts

So based on the above, why do people still use them in their ears?

While Q-tips weren’t originally designed to be used for gently cleaning babies’ outer ears, eyes and bellybuttons in the bath, when they hit the market in the 1920’s they were advertised primarily for ear care. Their size, shape and soft cotton tips made them seem perfect for cleaning in the inner ear canal, and by the time medical professionals had warned the public in the 1970’s against inserting them into your ear, use of Q-tips to clean the inner ear was so popular it became hard to stop.

Why are cotton buds bad for your ears?

There are numerous reasons it’s not a great idea to stick a cotton bud in your ear, some worse than others:

Ear wax is natural and needed for the ears

Earwax is produced naturally in your ears to protect against foreign objects, such as dust, from entering the inner ear. It is produced in your ear canal and, along with the tiny hairs that line this sensitive area, prevents anything harmful from reaching the delicate structures inside your ear such as your eardrum. Removing earwax from your ears can leave them dry and itchy, and using a Q-tip to scratch that itch will only make the problem worse. By removing it, you’re actually raising the risk of damaging your ears or your hearing.

Injury to ears and/or hearing

Cotton buds may seem gentle and harmless, however by inserting them into your ears you risk causing damage to your eardrums. This can eventually lead to more serious problems, such as a perforated eardrum, tinnitus or hearing loss. Cleaning the earwax out of your inner ear canal will leave your ears dry and itchy,

Ear wax impaction

Using cotton buds in your ear canals actually have the opposite of the desired effect. Instead of removing earwax, more commonly they end up pushing the wax further into your ear canal where it can cause more serious problems such as hearing loss, dizziness, infection, earache or vertigo.

Ear infections

Most cotton buds are sterilised before being sold to the public, however that doesn’t mean you can’t still get an ear infection from using them inside your ear canal.  As mentioned above, repeated use of cotton buds in the ears can cause earwax impaction that can lead to ear infections. As earwax is naturally produced to keep your ears clean and protected from external particles, removing it can leave your ears vulnerable to infections.

Cotton lodged in ear

When using a cotton bud, it’s not uncommon for some of the cotton to fall away from the swab. This can happen inside your ear too. Cotton can be difficult to remove from your ear canal, and medical attention may be required.

What should I do if any of the above happens to me?

In the case of severe injury, hearing loss or cotton lodged in the ear you will need to seek medical advice by calling the NHS 111 service or your GP, or in an emergency visiting A&E or calling 999. For less serious symptoms, it may be best to leave your ear alone so the natural earwax can do its job of protecting your ear.

What should I do to clean my ears at home instead of Q-tips?

There are several ways to deal with minor earwax build up at home without risking the damage caused by Q-tips. The safest and most efficient way is by gently washing your ears with warm water in the shower. Earwax will soften in the warm water, making it easy to rinse and remove excess.

Another solution to removing excess earwax is to use olive oil or other gentle mineral oils. Apply a few drops of the oil of your choice to your ear using an ear dropper and leave it to be absorbed.

Should I get my ears cleaned professionally instead?

Well yes! We may be biased as an earwax removal service, but there’s no more guaranteed way to safely clean your ears than using an expert.

We offer expert earwax removal services across Suffolk, and you can contact us here to book your appointment.