DIY is all the rage these days and everybody appreciates a quick easy fix. Sink Leaking? You can learn about how to fix that from a YouTube video. 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 by yourself.
At least, until your sink starts to leak again. That’s because sometimes the skill and experience of a professional can’t be effectively substituted for a quick fix.
Sometimes, that’s difficult to admit. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that people keep coming back to. It sounds… sort of gross, right? Let’s dive into just what earwax candling is and its dangers.
Ear candling – what is it?
Everybody has had the feeling of a plugged ear now and then. Sometimes, it takes place when you’re sick and your ear fills with mucus. In other situations, it may happen because you have a surplus of earwax in your ears (and surplus earwax can have any number of causes). When this takes place, you may experience a certain amount of discomfort. You may even notice a temporary loss of hearing. It’s not fun!
Some people, as a result, believe that ear candling is just the cheap and novel fix they need. The idea is that a special hollow candle is put into your ear (non-burning end). Somehow, the mix of heat and the hollow style of the candle alters the air pressure inside of your ear canal, drawing the earwax or mucus out.
It should be quickly mentioned that ear candling isn’t encouraged by healthcare professionals. If you’re looking for proof that ear candling really works and draws out wax, you won’t find any. In other words, the vast majority of hearing and healthcare professionals will strongly recommend against ever utilizing this practice. Ear candling also has no effect on sinus pressure.
The FDA also strongly advocates against this approach.
The negative aspects of ear candling
Initially, ear candling might seem completely safe. It’s just a tiny flame. And you’re using “specialized” equipment. And people on the internet said it was safe! So, how can ear candling be dangerous?
Ear candling can, unfortunately, be very hazardous and there’s no way of getting around that! What are the negative effects of ear candling? Here are just a few of the (possibly painful) ways that ear candling can affect your health:
- Your Eardrum could accidentally get punctured: Whenever you insert something into your ear, you put yourself in danger! You may accidentally pierce your eardrum, creating significant discomfort and damage to your hearing. If this occurs it’s very likely that you will have to get professional assistance.
- You could seriously burn your face: Look, any time you’re positioning 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 hazards, you could also catch your hair on fire or drip hot wax into your eye.
- The earwax can be pushed even further into your ear: In much the same way that sticking a Q-tip in your ear can smoosh the earwax into an ever-more-dense blockage, so too can inserting a specialized candle into your ear. In other words, ear candling can make your earwax issue worse! This can result in all kinds of other complications from hearing loss to severe infections.
- You can cause severe burns to your ear: The fire and the melting ear candle wax are really hot. Your ear is extremely sensitive and significant burning can happen if the flame or the hot wax gets someplace it shouldn’t.
- You can leave candle wax behind in your ear: The candle wax can get left behind in your ears even if you don’t get burned. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the discomfort.
So, do hearing healthcare professionals recommend ear candling? No… not even a little bit! Ultimately, earwax candling isn’t only useless, it’s downright dangerous.
A better way to deal with earwax
Earwax is actually a good thing. In normal quantities, it’s good for your ears. Problems start when there’s an overabundance of earwax or when it won’t drain effectively. So what should you do if using a candle is a bad plan?
If you have an earwax blockage, the best thing to do might be consulting with a hearing specialist. Typically, they will suggest that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to loosen the wax allowing it to run out on its own. But they might also clean out your ear during your visit.
Hearing specialists have special tools and training that let them remove wax without harming your ear.
It’s best to steer clear of things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Unless your hearing specialist says differently, it’s a good strategy to never put anything smaller than your finger in your ear.
Give your ears some relief
If accumulated earwax is causing you a bit of discomfort or misery, you should make an appointment with us. We will be able to help 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
