If you're still reaching for this common product to battle ear wax, it's time to try a better — and safer — method.

Swabs can damage the skin inside the ear: The skin in the ear canal, Kesser notes, is delicate, and swabs can wear away at it. This can cause what he calls micro-cuts, "which [can be] portals of ...

How to Clean Ears Without Cotton Swabs If you're off the cotton swab bandwagon (welcome to the club!), you don't have to replace it with anything else — again, the ears are self-cleaning.

According to doctors, you should not use cotton swabs to clean your ears. Instead, they recommend using a damp washcloth or ear drops made to soften and remove wax.

Cotton swabs are probably the first thing you use to clean your ears. However, a doctor advises against it as it can cause ear damage and increase infection risk.

Why is it bad to clean your ears with cotton swabs? In a 2017 study by the National Children’s Hospital in Ohio, it was revealed that approximately 264,000 children sought emergency treatment in ...

If used to clean ears, stroke swab gently around the outer surface of the ear only.” Dr. Huynh echoed the company’s safety warnings, stating “do not use a cotton swab beyond the ...

Why your ears are always itchy even after cleaning with the real reasons behind persistent ear itching and what actually ...

Deep recommends a few practices that avoid the ear canal, but are good for general hygiene, “For cleaning, use a cotton swab or a wet washcloth around the outer ear for any wax that's come out ...

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimised by a cotton swab. (Hi, yes, my hand is raised.) The story goes like this: When I was in college, I was cleaning my ears out in my ...