Their end is near, but not quite imminent. In accordance with the Law on Biodiversity of 9 August 2016, plastic cottons will disappear from the shelves from 1 January 2020. This measure-which does not concern biodegradable sticks or those for medical use-is intended to limit plastic in order to reduce pollution at sea. In addition to polluting the environment, swabs can also be dangerous to our ears. As are other techniques.
The cerumen is not dirty and escapes on its own.
"some people clean their ears because they mistakenly think that the cerumen is dirty," says Dr. Jean-Marc Juvanon, an oto-rhinolaryngologist. This secretion produced by the skin of the auditory duct constitutes a protective and antiseptic film. Sometimes called "human wax", cerumen can be presented in different colours-from light yellow to black, through all shades of brown-without any pathological significance. "those who Don't produce enough are more likely to be infected," says Dr. Juvanon.
And the cerumen does not need any help to get out of the auditory duct: he does it on his own, thanks to a self-cleaning mechanism. "it is transported outward through the skin, like a treadmill," says Dr. Juvanon. Along the way, he loads up impurities and finally runs aground around the orifice of the conduit. " This is when the cotton tip, the handkerchief or, more simply, the atrial comes in. "you should not try to clean anything other than the cerumen of the visible part of the ear. And still, it's only aesthetic, "the specialist continues. As soon as we cross the edge of the orifice, we are already too far! "
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Risk of irritations and traffic congestion
Pushing your cotton swab too deep is not without risk, especially for children. A study published in 2016 in Pediatrics magazine showed that between 1990 and 2010, more than 260,000 young Americans were injured because of these sticks. One of the most common accidents is perforation of the eardrum, which can lead to severe pain and decreased hearing. Another risk is that by cleaning the ears too frequently, the skin loses its protection, becomes irritated, painful and a source of itching.
Finally, excessive use of cotton tips can pack up the cerumen, leading to the formation of a stopper and then to a decrease in hearing. This can occur abruptly if water inflates the cap. "ORL doctors have techniques and instruments to extract very deep corks of cerumen," says Dr. Juvanon. The patient then returns to a normal hearing. "
Ear pear, sprays and Hopi candle
Some people produce more cerumen than needed. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the use of noise caps, headphones or hearing aids. For them, cleaning every three months is necessary. "it's possible to use a pear and warm water, with a few drops of liquid to soften the cerumen, but you have to be very careful because it's not safe for the eardrum," says Dr. Juvanon. Similarly, the technique of directing water straight into the ear is aggressive and should be reserved for large producers. Another alternative is cleaning sprays, which allow for the mechanical evacuation of cerumen, but these are not always effective.
On the other hand, there is a technique that is far from unanimous among doctors: ear candle. This long hollow candle placed at the entrance of the ear is supposed to aspirate the cerumen which then goes up along the conduit. "A lot of studies have looked at this technique, but to my knowledge there are no studies that have demonstrated its effectiveness. Not to mention that it can cause damage because people sink the candle too much and burn themselves, "the specialist warns.
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How is the ear made up? What are the main pathologies, how can they be taken care of?
