Sometimes ears get itchy and people can be tempted to pick up the cotton bud to give them a good scratch.
Well, stop right there.
Mardi, an ear nurse from Crystal Clear Ears, Geelong, says that ears are lined with sensitive, thin skin, and quietly go about gathering earwax.
If anyone puts anything smaller than their elbow in their ear, such as a cotton bud, they are likely to push the whole lot further in or accidently scratch their ear.
Ears have wax for a reason – it helps protect ears from infection.
Some people have a natural problem with wax build up which is an hereditary problem, not a sign that the ear is being left uncleaned.
Ears are designed to naturally push out the wax but that doesn’t happen for some people.
Hearing aids, ear plugs or using ear buds for music prevent the wax from coming out naturally.
Mardi said it is amazing how often she sees people who don’t even realise they have a blocked ear.
They only realise there is a problem when they feel itchy in the ear or their family complains that they can’t hear.
Learn more at www.crystalclearclinic.com.au.
