UNAIR NEWS – Ears are organs used for hearing. The ears are divided into 3 parts: the outer ears, middle ears, and inner ears. To maintain the organs of hearing, we have to keep it clean. As widely known, most people use cotton buds to clean their ears.
In this regard, dr. Rosydiah Rahmawati, Sp.THT-KL(K), an otolaryngology consultant in the field of Otology and a lecturer of the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga, said that cleaning the ears with cotton buds is not prohibited but we must be careful. “There are various types of earwax. Actually, the earwax is on the outside, but sometimes the cotton bud can push it inside. That’s something to worry about,” she said.
“If the earwax is sparse and soft, it’s okay to clean the outside. But if the earwax is thick, large, and hard, cleaning it with cotton buds can actually push it in,” she added.
On the other hand, the use of ear drops sold in the market is known to be one way to clean the ears. However, Rosydiah emphasized that there are ear drops that can be used to soften earwax but must be prescribed by an otolaryngologist or general practitioner. “If people buy them without a doctor’s prescription, sometimes the treatment may not be appropriate,” she said.
The condition of each person’s ear canal is different. To clean it safely, Rosydiah explained that there are times when someone is advised to go to an otolaryngologist. “Perhaps, there are times when it is better to go to an otolaryngologist to check up on the condition of the earwax and ear canal. Thus, you know what to do next, whether you can clean the earwax yourself or with the help of an otolaryngologist,” she explained.
The period for cleaning the ears is 1 time a week if the earwax is small and has a lot of oil content so that the consistency is soft and can be done independently with care. Meanwhile, if the earwax is so cumulatively thick that it covers the ear canal, it is recommended to clean it every 6 months at an otolaryngologist.
Besides the negative impacts of cleaning earwax with cotton buds, earwax turns out to have positive functions for our body. Earwax produced since humans are born is physiological. “It is very useful to protect the ears, so unidentified objects or animals cannot enter the ears. In addition, earwax can keep the ears moist to prevent the ear canal from getting an infection. Actually, our body has a mechanism. If there is a lot of earwax, it will expel itself with the movement of the jaw and hairs in the ear canal,” she explained.
Rosydiah also advised the public not to feel anxious about the earwax. “Don’t worry about cerumen or earwax. It is not something scary. Earwax is something physiological that has many functions for the ear canal. In certain conditions, it indeed accumulates in our ears, so you can see an otolaryngologist to ensure the shape, amount of earwax, and how to handle it,” she concluded.
Author: Icha Nur Imami Puspita
Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia
