Everyone loves a quick fix, particularly when the solution is also a DIY fix. Got a leaky sink? You can learn about how to fix that from a YouTube video. A plumber would most likely be a bit 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 begins to leak again. Because, as it so happens, in some cases a DIY fix is no substitute for the well-sharpened skills of a professional.
It’s not always easy to acknowledge that this is the case. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that people keep going back to. It sounds… sort of gross, right? Let’s dive into exactly what earwax candling is and its dangers.
What is ear candling?
Have you ever had a stuffy-ear sort of feeling? On occasion, your ear will fill with mucus when you’re sick. Too much earwax can also cause this feeling and that can happen for a number of reasons. When this occurs, you might experience some discomfort. You may even experience a temporary loss of hearing. It kind of stinks!
Some individuals, as a result, think that ear candling is just the cheap and novel fix they need. The concept is that a special hollow candle is placed in your ear (non-burning end). People imagine that the wax and mucus are drawn out by the combination of heat and pressure changes inside your ear.
Healthcare professionals definitely don’t recommend this technique. If you’re looking for proof that ear candling actually works and pulls out wax, you won’t uncover any. Nearly 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 strongly advises against this approach.
What are the disadvantages of ear candling?
Ear candling might feel safe, at first. It’s just a tiny flame. And you’re using “specialized” equipment. And individuals on the internet said it was safe! So, how could ear candling be harmful?
Sadly, there’s no mistaking the fact that ear candling can be absolutely hazardous. What are the negative effects of ear candling? Here are just a few of the (potentially painful) ways that ear candling can affect your health:
- You could severely burn your face: Look, any time you’re holding candles that close to your face, there’s a strong possibility you’ll get a burn. Accidents will happen! Severe burns on the face are not the only hazards, you could also catch your hair on fire or trickle hot wax into your eye.
- Your Eardrum may accidentally get pierced: Whenever you put something into your ear, you put yourself at risk! You may accidentally puncture your eardrum, causing considerable discomfort and damage to your hearing. Often, this is something that needs to be treated by a hearing professional.
- The earwax can be crammed even further into your ear: In much the same way that pushing a Q-tip in your ear can pack 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! Other complications, from hearing loss to ear infections can also be the result.
- Your ear can have residual candle wax left behind: Even if you don’t get burned, surplus ear candle wax can go into your ears. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the uncomfortableness.
- You can cause severe burns to your ear: The fire and the melting ear candle wax are very hot. If the tip of the candle or the wax gets where it’s not supposed to, you’re looking at some significant burning possibilities in your ear (and your ear is a sensitive location).
So, do hearing healthcare professionals advocate ear candling? Not at all! Ultimately, earwax candling isn’t simply useless, it’s utterly dangerous.
A better way to handle earwax
Earwax is actually a good thing. It’s helpful for your ears in normal quantities. It’s only when there’s an excessive amount of earwax (or it isn’t draining properly) that you begin to have issues. So what should you do if using a candle is a bad idea?
Consult a hearing specialist if you have a persistent earwax obstruction. Typically, they will suggest that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to soften the wax allowing it to run out by itself. But in some cases, they will do a cleaning for you.
Hearing specialists have specific tools and training that let them clean out wax without injuring your ear.
It’s best to avoid things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Nothing smaller than your finger should go into your ears unless advised by your hearing specialist or doctor.
How to help your ears feel better
If accumulated earwax is causing you a bit of discomfort or distress, 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