For many of us, ear wax is nothing but dirt in ear canals. But actually, it is secretions from ceruminous and sebaceous glands of ears, which has an important role to play. Firstly ear has its own self cleansing way, so it naturally get rids of old ear wax during jaw movements. Ear wax moisturizes ear canal skin, maintains pH of canal skin to avoid bacterial and fungal growth. Most importantly, it protects ear drum from any direct pressure or trauma, traps dirt or foreign materials entering canal.

Why many people end up self cleaning ears? It’s because they have a habit , they have been doing this, seen their family members doing it. Also it gives a sense of satisfaction for the person doing this- a twisted pleasure of ear cleaning.

Many products starting with the simplest looking ‘little padded sticks’ Q-tips to most complex machines like self using ear vacuum suctions have been marketed as household staples. You can easily buy one from reputed online companies, many a times with a warning notice and sometimes without. But no one cares, because the way they are marketed showing self ear cleaning as a simple and safe process. No doubt people end up buying, only remembering a doctor when something goes wrong.

So, a simple take home message- Your ears are sensitive, do not subject to harsh treatment by putting anything and everything you see on social media. Abstain from use of self cleaning ear products, starting with Q-tip. Whenever I see a patient in my OPD with a story of attempts to clean the ear, I make them understand the problem and advise them to throw away such things. The ones not following keeps coming back with ear issues.