You have to STOP the Q-tip

 

If you know me at all you know that I’m a Q-tip hater. It’s true.

“Why? Oh, why?” you might ask in hopeful disbelief.

 “Q-tips are awesome and I couldn’t live without them.” you might say. 


SHORT ANSWER:

“I hate them.”

Longer, more elaborate conspiracy theory: 

“I believe Q-tips were marketed to create money for ENT’s by convincing people to use them. People think that they are cleaning their ears, while in fact they are packing wax further into their ear canals.  The vast majority of severe wax impactions I see in clinic are due to patients pushing wax deep into their ear canals (or even worse, their children’s) with the Q-tip.”

Did you know?  

On the Q-tip box there is a big warning, which says, “Do not insert swab into ear canal”.  Do you know why it says that?  To try to keep people from suing the Q-tip companies after they have hurt themselves by jamming a Q-tip in their ear!  I have seen ear drum perforations from Q-tips, ear canal lacerations from Q-tips, and have had to take children to the OR to clean out severe impactions from parents using Q-tips to shove wax down onto their ear drums which led to hearing loss and pain.  So suffice it to say, I am not a fan.* 

Do you feel conflicted yet? Good. I really do want you to think twice before using one again.

So you say, “What can I do about earwax if not for the q-tip?” 

Or, “What in the world is a Q-tip good for if not for earwax?”

I’m so glad you asked! Stay tuned. Don’t want to risk missing the answers? Subscribe to our RSS feed and have it delivered straight to your inbox.

 

* Despite my credentials and best efforts to advise, my wife still loves Q-tips like a normal person. We try to not let it come between us. 

 
 

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Ear, Daily LifeErin Shellenbergerear, earwax