Everybody loves a quick fix, particularly when the solution is also a DIY fix. Got a leaky sink? You can learn to fix that from a YouTube video. A plumber would most likely be a little more efficient but then you wouldn’t get that sense of self-satisfaction that comes with doing it on your own.
But that feeling only lasts until your sink starts to leak again. Because, as it turns out, sometimes a DIY fix is no replacement for the well-honed skills of a professional.
Sometimes, that’s hard to admit. And, in part, that’s why individuals will frequently continue to look for “easy” DIY-fixes for intricate problems, which may help explain the popularity of something called ear candling (or, in some cases, earwax candling). It sounds… sort of gross, doesn’t it? Let’s dive into exactly what earwax candling is and its dangers.
Ear candling – what is it?
Have you ever had a stuffy-ear kind of feeling? In some cases, your ear will fill with mucus when you’re ill. Too much earwax can also cause this feeling and that can occur for a variety of reasons. This can sometimes be very uncomfortable. Your hearing may even temporarily go. It kind of stinks!
Some individuals, because of this, think that ear candling is just the inexpensive and novel solution they need. The concept is to put the non-burning end of a special, hollow candle inside of your ear. Somehow, the blend of heat and the hollow style of the candle changes the air pressure inside of your ear canal, pulling the earwax or mucus out.
Healthcare professionals absolutely don’t suggest this approach. If you’re searching for proof that ear candling actually works and pulls out wax, you won’t find any. Almost every single hearing healthcare professional, as a result, will strongly advocate against using this strategy ever. (Does ear candling help with sinus pressure? Also no.)
The FDA also firmly advocates against this practice.
What are the drawbacks of ear candling?
Ear candling may feel safe, initially. It’s not as if it’s a giant flame. And you’re utilizing “specialized” equipment. And individuals on the internet said it was safe! So how could it be possible for ear candling to be harmful?
Ear candling can, unfortunately, be really hazardous and there’s no way of getting around that! What are the negative effects of ear candling? Here are just some of the (possibly painful) ways that ear candling can impact your health:
- You might accidentally pierce your eardrum: Whenever you insert something into your ear, you put yourself at risk! You might accidentally pierce your eardrum, causing considerable discomfort and damage to your hearing. If this takes place it’s very likely that you will need to get professional help.
- Your ear can be seriously burned: Fire is hot, and so is melting candle wax. If the candle tips or the wax goes into where it’s not supposed to, you’re looking at some considerable burning possibilities in your ear (and your ear is a sensitive spot).
- Your face could be seriously burned: Look, any time you’re holding candles that close to your face, there’s a good possibility you’ll burn yourself. Accidents will happen! Severe burns on the face aren’t the only dangers, you could also catch your hair on fire or drip hot wax into your eye.
- Your ear can have surplus candle wax left behind: The candle wax can get left behind in your ears even if you don’t get burned. This leftover wax can cause significant discomfort and, eventually, affect your hearing.
- You can push that earwax even further up into your ear: Putting an ear candle into your ear can actually push earwax further into the ear canal much like when you use a cotton swab. Your earwax problem can be worsened by earwax candling, in other words! This can lead to all sorts of other complications from hearing loss to serious infections.
So, is ear candling approved by hearing healthcare professionals? Not at all! Ultimately, earwax candling isn’t only ineffective, it’s utterly dangerous.
So how should you get rid of earwax?
Earwax is actually a good thing. It’s good for your ears in normal quantities. Problems start when there’s too much earwax or when it won’t drain effectively. So… if you can’t make use of a burning candle to eliminate earwax, what should you do?
Seek advice from a hearing specialist if you have a stubborn earwax blockage. They may suggest some at-home alternatives (including using saline or mineral oil to soften the wax, allowing it to sort of run out on its own). But in some situations, they will perform a cleaning for you.
We can get rid of the wax safely with specialized tools and training.
Generally, you should stay away from techniques such as utilizing cotton swabs and earwax candling. Unless your hearing specialist says differently, it’s a good strategy to never put anything smaller than your finger in your ear.
How to help your ears feel better
If surplus earwax is causing you a bit of discomfort or misery, you should make an appointment with us. We can help you get back to normal by eliminating any stubborn earwax.
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/ear-candling-ineffective-and-risky
