Are Ear Wax Removal Kits Safe | Ear Wax & Cleaning Ears – ConsumerReports.org
Ear CandlingAccording to the FDA, ear candles (shown at top) are “hollow cones that are about 10 inches long and made from a fabric tube soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or a mixture of the two.” The agency also says that ear candles are being marketed as treatments for a variety of conditions, including, “ear wax buildup, sinus infections, hearing loss, headaches, colds, flu, and sore throats.”
Proponents of ear candling claim that it pulls wax and “debris” from your …….
Ear Candling
According to the FDA, ear candles (shown at top) are “hollow cones that are about 10 inches long and made from a fabric tube soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or a mixture of the two.” The agency also says that ear candles are being marketed as treatments for a variety of conditions, including, “ear wax buildup, sinus infections, hearing loss, headaches, colds, flu, and sore throats.”
Proponents of ear candling claim that it pulls wax and “debris” from your ear, by placing a lit, hollow, cone-shaped candle into the ear canal. Ear candling fans believe that the heat from the candle creates a suction that pulls out all the gunk from your ear canal. But does it work?
“That is a myth,” says Adunka, “A candle over your ear cannot magically clean out your head.”
Not only that, but they can be dangerous. The FDA has warned that ear candling can cause burns to the face, ear canal, eardrum, and middle ear; start a fire; plug the ears with candle wax; bleeding; puncture the eardrum; and cause patients to delay seeking medical care for underlying conditions.
Ear Drops
Ear drops, some of which are sold under the brand name Debrox, earned a nod of approval from the doctor.
“This is something we recommend if the wax is particularly hard. It will soften it up and then make extraction—which should only be done in the doctor’s office—much easier,” Adunka says.
But Dr. Adunka emphasized that for most people, this isn’t necessary.
“The ears naturally clean themselves, pushing the wax to the outer ear. The best way to keep your ears clean is to gently wipe them with the edge of a towel after stepping out of the shower.”
