DIY is all the rage these days and everybody likes a quick easy fix. Sink Leaking? Just search YouTube for the suitable plumbing tutorial, buy the recommended tools, and go to work! It may take you a little bit longer than it would take a plumber, but there’s no substitute for the satisfaction you feel, right?
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 isn’t always easy to admit that this is the situation. And, to some extent, that’s why people will often continue to seek out “easy” DIY-fixes for intricate problems, which may help explain the popularity of something known as ear candling (or, in some cases, earwax candling). It doesn’t really sound that pleasing, does it? Let’s dive into just what earwax candling is and its dangers.
What is ear candling?
Have you ever had a plugged-ear kind of feeling? Sometimes, it takes place when you’re ill and your ear fills with mucus. In other cases, it may occur because you have a surplus of earwax in your ears (and surplus earwax can have a variety of causes). When this takes place, you might experience a certain amount of discomfort. You might even notice a temporary loss of hearing. It’s not fun!
Because of this, some people imagine they have found what seems to be a natural and novel solution: ear candling. The idea is that a special hollow candle is put into your ear (non-burning end). Somehow, the combination of heat and the hollow style of the candle alters the air pressure inside of your ear canal, pulling the earwax or mucus out.
Healthcare professionals definitely don’t encourage this technique. If you’re looking for evidence that ear candling actually works and draws out wax, you won’t uncover any. Essentially, most hearing and healthcare professionals will strongly advocate against ever utilizing this practice. (Does ear candling help with sinus pressure? Also no.)
The FDA also firmly advises against this practice.
The drawbacks of ear candling
Ear candling may feel safe, at first. It’s a really small flame. And the “equipment” is specialized. And there are lots of people online who claim that it’s completely safe. So how could it be possible for ear candling to be harmful?
Sadly, there’s no getting around the fact that ear candling can be absolutely hazardous. What are the side effects of ear candling? Ear candling can impact your health in the following negative and potentially painful ways:
- You can cause severe burns to your ear: Fire is hot, melting wax is too. If the candle tips or the wax goes into where it’s not supposed to, you’re looking at some significant burning possibilities in your ear (and your ear is a sensitive spot).
- You could accidentally pierce your eardrum: Whenever you put something into your ear, you put yourself in danger! Your hearing will suffer considerable damage and discomfort if you end up puncturing your eardrum. Often, this is something that has to be addressed 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 smoosh the earwax into an ever-more-dense obstruction, 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.
- Your face could be severely burned: Look, whenever you’re positioning candles that close to your face, there’s a strong possibility you’ll burn yourself. 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.
- Your ear can have residual candle wax left behind: The candle wax can get into your ears even if you don’t get burned. Your hearing can become impacted from this, not to mention the discomfort.
So, is ear candling approved by hearing healthcare professionals? Not at all! Not only is ear candling not practical, it’s actually really dangerous!
So how should you eliminate earwax?
Ear wax is normally pretty healthy. In normal quantities, it’s good for your ears. It’s only when there’s an excessive amount of earwax (or it isn’t draining properly) that you begin to have difficulty. So what should you do if utilizing a candle is a bad strategy?
If you have an earwax obstruction, the best thing to do may be talking to a hearing specialist. Normally, they will suggest that you try some at-home solutions, like a saline wash, to soften the wax allowing it to run out on its own. But they may also clean out your ear during your visit.
We can eliminate the wax safely with specialty tools and training.
It’s best to avoid things like ear candles and cotton swabs. Unless your hearing specialist says differently, it’s a good plan 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 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
