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Patient Education: Ear Hygiene Information

At Clear Ears Perth we feel it is important to educate people on how to best care for their ears. Read our easy to follow guideline on how to best keep your ears healthy.

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Ear Wax Dos and Don'ts

DO

Understand that ear wax is normal and should be left alone, unless it is causing you symptoms such as; blocked ear, aural fullness, reduced hearing, itching, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), decrease in the sound quality of hearing aids, or whistling hearing aids (feedback).
Seek medical advice if you have; otalgia (ear pain), otorrhea (discharge coming from the ear/s), bleeding from the ear/s or if you are concerned that you have something in your ear that is not ear wax.

DON'T

Clean your ears yourself. This may irritate your ear canal and increase the risk of an ear infection and the risk of ear wax impaction.
Put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. This makes sure that you don’t injure your ear canal, tympanic membrane (ear drum) or middle ear bones.
Use ear candles.
Ignore symptoms.

Best Tips for Healthy Ears

Don’t use medication in the ear, unless it is prescribed to you by a medical practitioner.

Don’t attempt to clean your ears, especially with dirty towels, tissues or fingers.

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Remember the old saying ‘nothing smaller than your elbow goes in your ear’. That means no; cotton buds, bobby pins, q-tips, pen lids etc.

Don’t put water in your ears, try and keep them dry.

Avoid prolonged use of earbuds or earplugs.

If you do use earbuds or earplugs, make sure they are clean before placing them in your ears.

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Maintaining Healthy Ears: The Importance of Professional Ear Cleaning

Understanding the Self-Cleaning Mechanism of Your Ears

Many people may not know this, but our ears are designed to clean themselves. It's a natural process that continually helps to keep our ears healthy. As our skin cells grow and die, they move from the eardrum to the ear opening, facilitating the migration process of the ear canal. This process is essential for maintaining ear health and preventing the build-up of harmful substances.

Why You Should Avoid Self-Cleaning Your Ears

Despite our ears' self-cleaning ability, some people may feel the need to clean their ears themselves, which can be harmful. This practice can lead to cerumen impaction, a condition where earwax blocks the ear canal. The act of self-cleaning can push the wax deeper into the ear, causing blockage and potentially leading to pain, hearing loss, ringing in the ear, or even an ear infection.

Reasons Some People are Prone to Ear Wax Build-Up

It's important to note that some individuals may be more prone to ear wax build-up due to their anatomy or frequent usage of earplugs or earphones. These factors can interfere with the natural migration process, causing wax build-up that requires professional intervention for removal.

The Significance of Professional Ear Cleaning

For those prone to ear wax build-up, professional ear cleaning, such as the services offered at an ear suction clinic or through ear wax removal in Perth, is crucial. These services involve safe, effective methods of removing excess wax without causing harm to the ear. Remember, you should never attempt to remove ear wax by yourself, as this can lead to serious complications.

Book an appointment at Clear Ears Perth for an Ear Health Consultation, if you are experiencing any ear health symptoms

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