Are you still picking your ears casually? This habit is dangerous!

In daily life, many people like to use their little fingers or something to pick their ears whenever they have nothing to do. This is a habit of many people. They think that this can clean the ear canal and make their hearing more sensitive.

But this is not the case. Earwax may seem useless but it can protect the ears, while frequent ear cleaning can cause harm.

First of all, what is the function of earwax?

1. It is rich in oil, which can moisturize the ear canal and effectively block the invasion of bacteria and dust in the air. It can also block small insects, thereby reducing the occurrence of ear canal problems.

2. Earwax contains antibacterial enzymes, immunoglobulins and other ingredients, which can inhibit and eliminate bacteria in the external auditory canal to a certain extent.

3. In addition, the eardrum is very fragile. If strong sound waves are transmitted directly into the ear canal, it may damage the eardrum or even cause it to rupture.

So, do you need to clean your ears?

There are two main types of earwax: dry and oily.

Dry earwax is a brittle, thin, yellow secretion. When we chew, yawn, or perform some biting exercises in our daily life, it will automatically be discharged from the external auditory canal, so we don't need to dig it out.

Oily earwax is a kind of sticky, oily mass with strong adhesion. It usually does not fall out by itself. It will accumulate in the ear, slowly harden, and finally block the external auditory canal. We need to clean it regularly. However, you don't need to clean it too thoroughly, too frequently, or randomly.

How to clean your ears correctly?

1. Choose the right tools

It is best to use a cotton swab to gently rotate the external auditory canal, and do not use sharp objects such as nails and iron sticks to pick your ears.

2. Use ear drops

If you encounter hard or large earwax, do not force it out. You can use ear drops to soften the earwax first and protect the ear canal skin.

3. Guaranteed frequency

The frequency should not be too frequent, once every one to two weeks is enough. People with "oily ears" can do it shorter. It can be adjusted according to your own situation.

Image source: Baidu Gallery

What are the dangers of frequent ear cleaning?

1. Exerting too much force may cause perforation of the eardrum, hearing loss, or even ear inflammation.

2. Sometimes when it is difficult to remove earwax, some people will use an ear pick or long fingernails to dig it out. This can easily push the earwax deeper into the ear, causing cerumen blockage. At this time, the eardrum is compressed and hearing is affected.

3. Using ear picks, long fingernails, etc. to pick ears cannot guarantee hygiene, and it is easy to cause tiny wounds, which can lead to fungal infection in the external auditory canal.

4. Frequent earwax digging will stimulate the secretion of earwax, resulting in more earwax. In this case, the earwax secreted will change from the original flakes to fragments. In this way, earwax can no longer protect our ears well.

5. If you are picking your ears outdoors, the tools are shared by many people and there is no guarantee of regular disinfection. Repeated use can easily cause cross-infection of fungi.

How to protect your ears?

1. Prevent water from flowing into the ears when washing your hair or taking a bath

When unclean water enters the ear, it creates a humid environment in the ear, where bacteria can easily breed and the ear can become infected.

2. Avoid listening to music with headphones in noisy environments

The noise level in subways and buses can reach around 80 decibels. If you want to hear music, the noise level must exceed 80 decibels, which will damage your hearing over time.

Image source: Baidu Gallery

3. Know the correct method when blowing your nose

Blowing your nose too hard will increase the pressure in your nose, and some of the mucus may enter the tympanic cavity through the Eustachian tube and cause infection, which can easily lead to ear inflammation. If you have a lot of mucus, it is best to blow your nose on one side and don't use too much force.

4. Avoid long phone calls

Many people like to "chat on the phone for a long time", but answering the phone for a long time is not a good thing. This will put the ears in a high-load working state, which can easily lead to auditory fatigue and damage hearing.

5. Protect your ears when flying

When an airplane is taking off, climbing or landing, the air pressure will change dramatically, affecting the eardrum, causing ear discomfort, tinnitus, and even hearing loss. Therefore, when flying, you should pay attention to swallowing more to avoid air pressure damage to your ears.

If earwax accumulates for a long time and causes earwax blockage, affecting hearing, you must not use brute force to remove your ears. You can go to the hospital to remove it with special instruments.