Cotton buds have become a household staple, often used to “clean” ears. For many, ear cleaning with buds is part of a daily hygiene ritual. But specialists caution that this habit may be doing more harm than good, leading to wax impaction, ear canal injuries and infections, while disrupting the ear’s natural cleaning process.
It’s not dirt
“Everybody thinks ear buds can clean wax. But in reality, they only scrape a little bit and push the rest deeper into the canal,” says Suhel Hasan, senior consultant & head, ENT, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre, Narayana Health, Bengaluru. The result, he explains, is wax impaction where hardened wax gets lodged inside and patients come in with complaints of blockage, pain or reduced hearing.
Earwax, or cerumen, is in fact protective. “It lubricates the skin, traps dust and bacteria, and even has antifungal properties,” says Gowri Shankar M., senior consultant, SIMS Hospital, Chennai. The ear has a natural conveyor-belt-like mechanism that moves wax outward. “When you keep poking the ear with buds, this system gets disturbed. Wax collects near the eardrum, hardens and causes itching, ringing or pain. Ironically, the more you try to clean, the worse it gets,” he adds.
The physical risks are also significant. Cotton buds can injure the delicate ear canal skin, sometimes causing bleeding. “In some unlucky cases, the bud goes too deep and tears the eardrum. That is painful and needs proper treatment,” warns Dr. Shankar
Dr. Hasan says: “Vigorous cleaning can traumatise the canal. People even get into the habit of doing it daily, scratching for relief. But this can lead to infection, or in rare cases, perforation of the eardrum.”
Ashwini R., consultant ENT, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru, calls cotton buds “the worst offenders” among home remedies. “They give a false sense of cleaning but actually push wax further in,” she says, adding that children’s ears are especially vulnerable because of their smaller, delicate canals.
Health risks
Studies indicate a significant association between cotton bud use and ear problems, including infections and wax impaction. And a high percentage of people use cotton buds despite potential risks such as Otitis Externa (ear canal infection) and eardrum damage
Though uncommon, wax accumulation can sometimes lead to keratosis obturans, a painful condition where layers of wax and skin collect in the canal. “It can take days of treatment, sometimes even surgery, to clear. Patients never forget the pain,” says Dr. Hasan. Overuse of cotton buds can also lead to trauma and perforation of the eardrum. The buds break and remain lodged in the ear canal, potentially causing severe complications, including necrotising otitis externa and may also lead to bacterial growth in the ear canal.
Cleaning ears
Doctors emphasise that in most cases, ears need no cleaning at all. “Just wipe the outer ear with a cloth. Never put anything inside the canal,” advises Dr. Shankar.
K. Priya, senior consultant, SRM Global Hospitals, Chennai, adds, “If there is a sense of blockage, safer options include wax-softening drops made of glycerin, saline or mineral oil. If symptoms persist, let an ENT remove the wax professionally with suction or instruments.”
Doctors routinely see the consequences of misguided home remedies like ear candles, hairpins, matchsticks and even pens. Sunny Mehra, consultant ENT, VS Hospitals, Chennai, says, “I’ve seen everything from buds to matchsticks pulled out of ears. A few drops to soften wax or a visit to the clinic is far better than poking inside,” he says.
“Clean only the outside, let the ear’s natural system work, and seek medical help if you have real discomfort,” says Dr. Hasan. As Dr. Ashwini sums up, “Ears are remarkably delicate and they cannot be replaced. A little restraint with buds can save you a lifetime of problems.”
Published – August 30, 2025 12:26 pm IST
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