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Ear cleaning must be performed even more meticulously by people whose hearing can be altered or compromised. In this category of subjects we remember:
- Workers who, exercising their activity in environments with high noise pollution (eg DJs, road workers, etc.), are forced to use earplugs;
- Swimmers: by penetrating inside the ear canal, the water tends to swell the cerumen granules which, increasing in volume, end up obstructing the ear canal;
- Hearing aid wearers: the elderly, protagonists of this category, should pay particular attention to cleaning their ears, since hearing aids can favor the stagnation of ear wax in the basin of the auricle.
Ear cleaning is not to be understood as one complete removal of the ceruminous substance: in fact, a right amount of earwax is essential to protect the ear from harmful particles and to maintain a certain humidity, essential to avoid drying.
What has been said does not mean that you should not pay attention to the hygiene of the ears, rather the cleaning of the hearing organs is correct when it is performed with diligence and attention.
Beyond similar techniques, today there are numerous strategies aimed at cleaning the ears: however, the most suitable and best treatment aimed at removing earwax has not yet been identified.
Listed below are the most commonly used methods of ear cleaning.
, sweet almond oil, vaseline oil, peanut oil) fortified with essential oils (disinfectants), or consisting of hydrogen peroxide, urea, glycerin or carbamide peroxide.
To clean the ears clogged with wax plugs, it is recommended to apply a few emollient drops directly into the ear canal, twice a day. Continue the treatment for 3-6 days.
For to prevent ear plug, ear cleaning should be done by instilling a few softener drops in the ear, once a week.
How to perform this method?
- Fill a syringe (from which the needle has been removed) with warm water (37-38 ° C)
- Slightly pull the ear upwards to facilitate the entry of water into the ear canal
- Direct the nozzle of the syringe filled with water slightly upwards, towards the ear canal, to facilitate the subsequent release of the earwax.
- Spray the water
- Slightly tilt the head to favor the escape of water and ceruminous particles
This operation can be repeated several times.
Precautions
- Although washing the earwax is a fairly simple maneuver, care must be taken when performing it, given the risks of rupturing the tympanic membrane or lacerating the skin of the ear canal.
- Use lukewarm water for proper ear cleaning: the use of water that is too cold or excessively hot compared to body temperature can cause dizziness
- Do not practice ear washing in case of otitis or eardrum perforation: such an attitude can create severe pain and dizziness.
- The water jet used to remove earwax should be sprayed more gently on children
- Suddenly abort the procedure if the patient complains of severe dizziness, nausea or severe pain during irrigation
The use of wax cones to clean the ears is not very reliable: the "cleaning" mechanism of candles is not clear and the medical profession is opposed and distrustful to the use of this practice. The most important risk deriving from this method is that the candle residues are deposited directly in the ear canal, creating a real wax plug, much more difficult to remove than the earwax plug. Furthermore, do not forget the risk of skin burns and hair burns!
and harmful particles. Cotton swabs should only be used for cleaning the outer ear.
However, it should not be forgotten that incorrect ear cleaning increases the risk of local infection, therefore otitis and inflammatory stenosis of the external auditory canal. To preserve perfect hearing ability, it is therefore essential to regularly dedicate a few minutes of one's time to cleaning the ears. ears.
Other articles on "Cleaning the Ears"
- Plug of earwax
- Remedies for earwax plugs
