DIY is all the rage these days and everyone likes a quick easy fix. Got a leaky sink? Just search YouTube for the suitable plumbing tutorial, go get the recommended tools, and get to work! 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 starts leaking again. Because, as it so happens, in some cases a DIY fix is no replacement for the well-honed 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 individuals keep coming back to. It sounds… kind of gross, right? Let’s dive into exactly what earwax candling is and its dangers.
Ear candling – what is it?
Have you ever had a stuffy-ear sort of feeling? Occasionally, it occurs when you’re ill and your ear fills with mucus. In other situations, it may occur because you have too much earwax in your ears (and too much earwax can have any number of causes). This can sometimes be really uncomfortable. You might even experience a temporary loss in your ability to hear. It sort of stinks!
Because of this, some individuals think they have encountered what seems to be a natural and novel solution: ear candling. The idea is that a special hollow candle is placed into your ear (non-burning end). Somehow, the mix of heat and the hollow style of the candle changes the air pressure inside of your ear canal, pulling the earwax or mucus out.
Healthcare professionals absolutely don’t suggest this approach. If you’re looking for evidence that ear candling actually works and pulls out wax, you won’t find any. In other words, most hearing and healthcare professionals will emphatically advise against ever using this practice. Ear candling also has no effect on sinus pressure.
Just listen to the FDA! (What is the FDA advising about ear candling? Basically, don’t do it!)
What are the disadvantages of ear candling?
At first, ear candling might feel completely safe. It’s just a tiny flame. And the “equipment” is specialized. And individuals on the internet claimed it was safe! So, how could ear candling be dangerous?
Sadly, there’s no mistaking the fact that ear candling can be downright hazardous. What are the side effects of ear candling? Ear candling can affect your health in the following negative and potentially painful ways:
- Your ear can be seriously burned: Fire is hot, and so is melting candle wax. If the tip of the candle or the wax goes into where it’s not supposed to, you’re looking at some considerable burning possibilities in your ear (and your ear is a sensitive location).
- The earwax can be crammed even further into your ear: Inserting an ear candle inside your ear can actually push earwax further into the ear canal much like when you utilize a cotton swab. In other words, ear candling can make your earwax issue worse! Other complications, from hearing loss to ear infections can also be the outcome.
- Your Eardrum might accidentally get punctured: There’s a danger that comes with pushing anything in your ears! You may accidentally pierce your eardrum, creating substantial discomfort and harm to your hearing. Often, this is something that must be treated by a hearing professional.
- Your ear can have surplus candle wax left behind: Even if you don’t get burned, residual ear candle wax can get left behind in your ears. This leftover wax can cause serious discomfort and, eventually, affect your hearing.
- Your face could be seriously burned: Look, any time you’re holding candles that close to your face, there’s a good possibility you’ll get a burn. Everyone has accidents now and then. 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 become severely burned.
So, is ear candling recommended by hearing healthcare professionals? No… not even a little bit! Ultimately, earwax candling isn’t just useless, it’s utterly dangerous.
So how should you eliminate earwax?
Earwax is actually a good thing. In normal amounts, it’s beneficial for your ears. 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 utilizing a candle is a bad idea?
If you have an earwax blockage, the best thing to do might be talking to a hearing specialist. Typically, they will recommend that you try some at-home solutions, such as a saline wash, to loosen the wax allowing it to drip out by itself. But they may also clean out your ear while you’re in the office.
We can get rid of the wax safely with specialty tools and training.
It’s best to steer clear of things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Unless your hearing specialist says differently, it’s a good policy to never put anything smaller than your finger in your ear.
Give your ears some relief
Schedule an appointment with us if you have excess earwax that’s causing you some distress. 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