Why Cotton Buds Are Bad for Your Ears
Despite what you might think, cotton buds can actually make ear wax problems worse and cause serious damage.
The Golden Rule
"Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear." This old saying holds true—your ears are self-cleaning, and most interference does more harm than good.
The Problems with Cotton Buds
Pushing Wax Deeper
Instead of removing wax, cotton buds push it further into your ear canal, compacting it against your eardrum. This creates hard impactions that are much more difficult to remove.
Risk of Injury
Your ear canal is delicate, and your eardrum is surprisingly close to the entrance. It's easy to scratch the canal or even perforate the eardrum if you slip or push too hard. <Link href="/services/microsuction" className="text-primary hover:underline font-medium">Professional removal</Link> is much safer.
Disrupting Natural Cleaning
Your ears have a natural self-cleaning mechanism. The skin inside your ear canal grows outward, carrying wax with it. Cotton buds disrupt this process.
Infection Risk
Scratches from cotton buds can become infected. You might also introduce bacteria from the cotton bud itself into your ear canal.
What to Do Instead
Already Caused a Problem?
If you've been using cotton buds and are now experiencing symptoms like muffled hearing, earache, or tinnitus, don't worry. Professional ear wax removal can safely clear the impaction and get you back to normal. Just stop using cotton buds going forward!