Everyone loves a quick fix, particularly when the fix is also a DIY fix. Got a leaky sink? Just search YouTube for the ideal plumbing tutorial, go get the recommended tools, and go to work! A plumber would probably be a little more efficient but then you wouldn’t get that feeling of self-satisfaction that comes with doing it on your own.
At least, until your sink begins leaking again. That’s because sometimes the skill and experience of a professional can’t be successfully substituted for a quick fix.
Sometimes, that’s hard to admit. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that individuals keep coming back to. It doesn’t really sound very appealing, does it? Let’s dive into exactly what earwax candling is and its dangers.
Ear candling – what is it?
Have you ever had a plugged-ear sort of feeling? Occasionally, it takes place when you’re ill and your ear fills with mucus. 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 might even temporarily go. It’s not fun!
Some individuals, as a result, believe that ear candling is just the inexpensive and novel solution they need. The idea is to put the non-burning end of a special, hollow candle inside of your ear. Individuals imagine that the wax and mucus are pulled out by the mix of heat and pressure changes inside your ear.
It should be immediately recognized that ear candling is not recommended by healthcare professionals. If you’re looking for evidence that ear candling actually works and draws out wax, you won’t find any. Nearly every single hearing healthcare professional, as a result, will emphatically recommend against using this technique ever. Ear candling also doesn’t help with sinus pressure.
Just listen to the FDA! (What is the FDA saying about ear candling? Essentially, don’t do it!)
What are the drawbacks of ear candling?
Ear candling might feel safe, initially. It’s not like it’s a giant flame. And you’re using “specialized” equipment. And there are a lot of people online who claim that it’s perfectly safe. So how could it be possible for ear candling to be dangerous?
Ear candling can, unfortunately, be really hazardous and there’s no way of getting around that! What negative impacts can ear candling have? Ear candling can impact your health in the following negative and possibly painful ways:
- You may accidentally puncture your eardrum: Whenever you insert something into your ear, you put yourself in danger! Your hearing will suffer considerable damage and discomfort if you end up puncturing your eardrum. Often, this is something that needs to be addressed by a hearing professional.
- Your ear can be seriously burned: Fire is hot, melting wax is too. Your ear is really sensitive and considerable burning can occur if the flame or the hot wax gets somewhere it shouldn’t.
- The earwax can be crammed even further into your ear: Putting an ear candle inside your ear can actually push earwax further into the ear canal much like when you use a cotton swab. In other words, ear candling can make your earwax issue worse! This can cause all kinds of other complications from hearing loss to severe infections.
- You could seriously burn your face: Look, whenever you’re positioning candles that close to your face, there’s a good possibility you’ll get a burn. Accidents will happen! It’s all too easy for candle wax to trickle into your eyes or for your hair to catch on fire or for your face to get seriously burned.
- You can leave candle wax behind in your ear: Even if you don’t get burned, residual ear candle wax can get left behind in your ears. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the discomfort.
So, is ear candling endorsed by hearing healthcare professionals? No… not even a little bit! Not only is ear candling not helpful, it’s actually very dangerous!
So how should you get rid of earwax?
Ear wax is generally pretty healthy. In normal amounts, it’s beneficial for your ears. It’s only when there’s an excessive amount of earwax (or it isn’t draining properly) that you start to have issues. So what should you do if using a candle is a bad idea?
Seek advice from a hearing specialist if you have a stubborn earwax blockage. Usually, they will recommend that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to soften the wax allowing it to run out by itself. But they may also clean out your ear while you’re in the office.
We can eliminate the wax safely with specialized tools and training.
In general, you should avoid techniques like using cotton swabs and earwax candling. Unless your hearing specialist says differently, it’s a good policy to never put anything smaller than your finger in your ear.
How to help your ears feel better
Schedule a consultation with us if you have surplus earwax that’s causing you some discomfort. We will be capable of helping you remove any stubborn earwax out of your ears and get you back to feeling normal.
References
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/health-fraud-scams/ear-candling-ineffective-and-risky
