CLAIM: 

Never clean your ears because earwax is essential for ear health, and the ears naturally clean themselves.

FACT: 

Earwax naturally protects the ear and usually cleans itself. Experts suggest that routine cleaning is unnecessary, and using cotton swabs or other objects can push wax deeper or cause damage.

When it comes to hygiene practices, we often think of skincare routines, washing our hair, or trimming our nails, etc. For many, cleaning the ears is also part of the checklist — sometimes a weekly or even daily ritual. From pouring in oil to using cotton swabs or the latest earbuds, the common belief is simple: earwax is dirty and needs to be removed. But is it really? 

A viral reel posted by the Instagram handle vital_signs8, with 6.7 lakh followers, has sparked debate around this very habit. 

The video appears to be exalting the benefits of earwax and explains “Why You Should NEVER Clean Your Ears,” in the caption.

Should you never clean your ears?

Earwax is not dirt but a natural self-cleaning substance that the body produces. Its role is to collect dust, bacteria, and other debris, preventing them from reaching the delicate eardrum. In most cases, earwax gradually works its way out of the ear canal on its own through natural jaw movements such as chewing and talking. Because of this, many people never need to clean their ears at all. 

There are times, however, when earwax builds up and causes what doctors call impaction. When this happens, a person may experience pain or ache in the affected ear, a feeling of fullness, ringing sounds, impaired hearing, dizziness, coughing, or even an odour coming from the ear. People who use hearing aids or earplugs – older adults, individuals with developmental disabilities, and those whose ear canal shape makes wax harder to expel naturally – are more likely to develop excess buildup.

According to guidelines from the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, experts strongly discourage the use of cotton-tipped swabs in the ears. The ear is naturally self-cleaning and does not require routine maintenance. Inserting swabs can push wax deeper into the canal, create pressure that diminishes hearing, or even injure the ear canal and eardrum, increasing the risk of infection. 

Harvard Health Publishing further explains that earwax is not a sign of poor hygiene but rather serves an important purpose. It moisturises the skin inside the ear canal, traps dirt and dust, absorbs dead skin cells and debris, and helps prevent bacteria and other organisms from reaching the inner ear. When earwax buildup does cause symptoms, doctors call it “cerumenosis” and may recommend treatments such as over-the-counter drops to soften the wax, gentle irrigation during a shower, or professional removal by a healthcare provider.

Ear self-cleaning

Research shows that the practice of cleaning one’s ears is widespread. A 2017 study conducted at KwaZulu-Natal University examined self-ear cleaning habits and the risks of injury among undergraduate students. The researchers reported that of the 206 participants who responded, 98% engaged in self-ear cleaning, with 75% indicating that it was beneficial.  

“The commonest method (79.6%) is the use of cotton buds, with an associated injury rate of 2.4%. There was no statistically significant association between those who used or did not use cotton buds and the symptoms experienced. The complications indicate that self-ear cleaning does pose a risk for injury, necessitating more community information and education,” the researchers noted. 

A similar pattern was observed in a cross-sectional study conducted among health workers in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, which assessed knowledge about earwax and the effects of ear self-cleaning. The study concluded: “Most respondents had poor knowledge of the function of earwax and the damage to the auditory canal associated with ear self-cleaning. There is thus the need for public enlightenment on the complications of the practice.” 

‘Earwax has antibacterial properties’

Dr Shweta Gogia, Senior Consultant, Department of ENT, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, with 21 years of experience, explained that the ear is naturally designed to clean itself. “The skin inside our ear has a normal turnover rate, just like the skin over our body. Whatever is on the outer part of the ear canal, which is hair-bearing, eventually comes out on its own,” she said. 

Earwax is produced by specialised glands in the ear canal and serves multiple protective functions. Dr Gogia explained, “It traps dust particles, has antibacterial properties, and prevents foreign material from entering the inner part of the ear canal.”  

She added that the skin in the deeper part of the canal grows in a centripetal pattern, moving inward, and warns that using cotton swabs, ear buds, or similar devices pushes wax into this deeper area where it cannot come out naturally. Over time, this can lead to complications such as infection, blockage, or even fungal growth.  

“People who are immunocompromised can have really severe infections, which we call malignant otitis externa, and you can even damage your eardrum because of that,” Dr Gogia warned. “So yes, you should not touch your ear, because God has designed the ear in such a manner that the part where the wax is being produced will eventually self-cleanse itself.” 

She further emphasised that earwax varies due to genetics. “Some people have thin, fluid-like, honey-colored wax, while others have hard, brittle, brown or black wax. It’s similar to how some people sweat more than others. Some produce more wax, others less. We cannot compare one person’s earwax to another’s,” she said, adding that even for heavy wax secretors, the wax will eventually come out if the ear is left alone and not fiddled with. 

What is the best way?

Dr Gogia advised only cleaning the outer ear. “You can take a soft tissue paper or a soft mulmul cloth, wrap it around your little finger, and gently clean the outer part of the ear. That is enough,” she advised while strongly cautioning against using earbuds or any devices to probe the ear canal. “Especially after swimming or bathing, when people feel the urge to clean their ears, they should resist it. Using cotton swabs or other objects causes more harm than good.” 

She also noted that if someone experiences itchiness, pain, blocked hearing, or any other discomfort, they should not try to remove the wax themselves.  

“You should massage your ear from the outside if needed, but otherwise, leave it alone. If symptoms persist, consult an expert immediately,” she said. “Trying to retrieve wax yourself can injure your ear and lead to more serious complications.” 

Also read: Which diseases will you face in 20 years? AI tool offers early forecasts