The swabs are usually one of the most used ways to clean our ears and they never fail in our bathroom cabinets, just like any other product.
By 2020, , in its effort to reduce the use of non-recyclable utensils, since the environmental damage caused by cotton buds is similar to that of .
However, its use is not highly recommended so, the sooner we get used to leaving them, the better. The use of cotton buds has several detrimental actions for our health. Here we tell you some of them:
wax is not bad
To begin with, it must be taken into account that the swab does not extract the wax well since, frequently, what it does is precisely push her in. Also, contrary to what is often thought, wax is not bad. Although it may not be aesthetic, it is created by the body itself because itIt is used to protect the ear and scare it away from possible infections and from the introduction, for example, of small insects. In addition, it also serves as a moisturizer.
wounds
When inserting the swab and depending on the movements we make with it inside the ear, we can provoke ourselves. small wounds and scrapes that, in the end, cause us or infections. Even if we fear it too much inside, we may damage the ear canal and cause some momentary hearing loss, itching, etc.
eardrum damage
Although these are usually superficial wounds that can heal on their own, excessive use of the swab can cause problems in the tympanic membrane or in the eardrum itself. If the wounds are large, they could even cause facial paralysis.
cotton release
It is not very common, but depending on the quality of the swab and the twists we make with it, it can happen that the cotton on the tip comes off and get stuck in the ear, which could lead to infection or a small plug causing hearing loss.
Alternatives
To clean the ears it is not necessary to take these risks with the cotton buds. how to apply a couple of times a month a mixture of fresh peroxide with water or ear drops specific ones that are sold in any pharmacy.
Also, it works apply vinegar with water in the form of drops once a week and you can also take advantage of the moment of the shower to simply wet the ear and then dry with gauze.
The important thing is to be clear that we should not become obsessed with expelling the wax since when eating, for example, jaw movement tends to expel wax towards the outside of the ear. However, in most cases, what is created is soft wax, which does not need to be removed as it is not harmful. Another thing is that the process does not work well and an accumulation can occur that causes a blockage in the auditory canal.