Everyone loves a quick fix, especially when the solution is also a DIY fix. Sink Leaking? You can learn about how to fix that from a YouTube video. A plumber would probably be a bit 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. Because, as it so happens, sometimes a DIY fix is no replacement for the well-honed skills of a professional.
Sometimes, that’s difficult to admit. Ear candling or earwax candling is a perfect example of a DIY fix that individuals keep coming back to. It sounds… kind of gross, right? Let’s dive into just what earwax candling is and its dangers.
What is ear candling?
Everybody has had the feeling of a plugged ear from time to time. Sometimes, your ear will fill with mucus when you’re ill. An excessive amount of earwax can also trigger this feeling and that can occur for a number of reasons. When this occurs, you might experience some discomfort. Your hearing might even temporarily go. It’s not fun!
Because of this, some individuals imagine they have discovered what seems to be a natural and novel solution: ear candling. The idea is to place the non-burning end of a special, hollow candle in your ear. Individuals imagine that the wax and mucus are drawn out by the mix of heat and pressure changes in your ear.
It should be quickly mentioned that ear candling isn’t advocated by healthcare professionals. Do ear candles really pull wax out? No. There’s positively no evidence that ear candling works (particularly not in the way that it’s supposed to work). Essentially, the vast majority of hearing and healthcare professionals will strongly recommend against ever utilizing this technique. Ear candling also doesn’t help with sinus pressure.
The FDA also strongly advocates against this practice.
The drawbacks of ear candling
Initially, ear candling may feel completely safe. It’s just a tiny flame. And you’re utilizing “specialized” equipment. And there are plenty of people online who maintain that it’s perfectly safe. So, how could ear candling be harmful?
Ear candling can, regrettably, be really dangerous and there’s no way to get around that! What negative impacts can ear candling have? Ear candling can impact your health in the following negative and possibly painful ways:
- You can push that earwax even further up into your ear: In much the same way that sticking 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. Your earwax issue can be worsened by earwax candling, in other words! Other complications, from hearing loss to ear infections can also be the consequence.
- You might accidentally puncture your eardrum: Whenever you put something into your ear, you put yourself at risk! Your hearing will suffer significant harm and discomfort if you end up puncturing your eardrum. Frequently, this is something that must be treated by a hearing professional.
- Your ear can be seriously burned: Fire is hot, melting wax is too. Your ear is very sensitive and significant burning can occur if the flame or the hot wax gets someplace it shouldn’t.
- You could severely burn your face: Look, whenever you’re holding candles that close to your face, there’s a strong possibility you’ll get a burn. Everyone has accidents now and then. Severe burns on the face are not the only dangers, you could also catch your hair on fire or trickle hot wax into your eye.
- You can leave candle wax behind in your ear: Even if you don’t get burned, surplus ear candle wax can go into your ears. This Leftover wax can cause acute discomfort and, eventually, affect your hearing.
So, is ear candling recommended by hearing healthcare professionals? No… not even a little! Not only is ear candling not helpful, it’s actually very dangerous!
A better way to deal with earwax
Ear wax is generally rather healthy. It’s helpful for your ears in normal quantities. It’s only when there’s too much earwax (or it isn’t draining correctly) that you start to have issues. So what should you do if making use of a candle is a bad strategy?
If you have an earwax blockage, the best thing to do may be speaking with a hearing specialist. Typically, they will recommend that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to soften the wax allowing it to drip out by itself. But in some instances, they will do a cleaning for you.
We can eliminate the wax safely with specialized tools and training.
It’s best to avoid things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Nothing smaller than your finger should go into your ears unless directed by your hearing specialist or doctor.
Give your ears some relief
If excess earwax is causing you a little discomfort or misery, you should make an appointment with us. 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