The American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery Foundation issued an update on recommendations for managing earwax buildup on Jan. 3. The new recommendations were published in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
For most people, earwax buildup will never be an issue as the ear canal is designed to self-clean. The misperception that earwax is associated with uncleanliness can result in harmful hygienic practices that may ultimately damage the ear canal.
"Patients often think that they are preventing earwax from building up by cleaning out their ears with cotton swabs, paper clips, ear candles, or any number of unimaginable things that people put in their ears," said Seth R. Schwartz, MD, chair of the guideline update group. "The problem is that this effort to eliminate earwax is only creating further issues because the earwax is just getting pushed down and impacted further into the ear canal. Anything that fits in the ear could cause serious harm to the ear drum and canal with the potential for temporary or even permanent damage."
When the self-cleaning processes of the ear aren't working properly and earwax buildup has occurred, here are the evidence-based best practices to treat the problem, according to the new guidelines.
1. Do not overclean your ears.
2. Do not attempt to use anything smaller than your elbow to clean your ears.
3. Don't use ear candles.
4. Seek medical evaluation if you experience ear pain or symptoms of hearing loss that are unrelated to earwax buildup.
5. Ask your provider about safe home strategies for treating earwax buildup.
6. Seek medical attention for ear pain, drainage or any bleeding from the ear.
More articles on quality:
Patient Safety Movement announces third contest to win fishing trip with Jimmy Carter
Incivility in the OR: How hospitals, nurse managers and front-line nurses should respond
Joint Commission reviews safety complaint about Summa Health