To continue using cotton buds in my ears

[bumblenbean]

.. when the expert view is that it’s a pretty bad idea? I cannot seem to stop this rather unsavoury daily habit. I don’t do it to shift earwax, but simply because the sensation of twirling a cotton bud in the inner ear feels so good! I’ve heard it described as an eargasm (!) - I wouldn’t go that far but it is very satisfying especially if there’s a minor itch in the ear ...

AIBU to carry on regardless, since i’ve never had any untoward incidents? Admittedly I did have a minor crisis once when the cotton came away inside my ear and DH had to perform an extraction with a pair of tweezers... but that was due to a rather too vigorous twirling action which has since been modified

DH thinks I’m mad to keep doing it and appears to think I’ll end up piercing my eardrum or something else rather dramatic. Surely someone else out there indulges in this despite knowing it’s probably a bad idea?! Or do I need to go cold turkey?

And does anyone have any other inadvisable yet oddly compulsive habits they can share?

... Also, just cos a doctor does it, doesn't mean its OK! Doctors aren't magic, perfect humans - drug use and excessive alcohol consumption are more common in doctors than in the population as a whole (citations available on request, or do your own googling :))

Did anyone else around the mid 50's age group have their parents use a matchstick (non-ignition end) and twirl cotton wool around it to clean out their ears? That's what my Mum used on us - probably before cotton buds were invented or maybe they were too expensive (we were poor).

I do it every now and then if i have a sense of build up, the results that come out is so satisfying!

I want ear suction too....xx

It feels great but is really damaging. You're pushing wax down your ear canal and, at some point, it will block and cause you problems.

My gp said "don't put anything smaller than your elbow down your ear".

You have to be extremely careful with cotton buds in ears. There are four big risks:

1. You can shove the ear wax in deeper. Ear wax is only produced in the outer third of the canal and normally migrates outward when we chew. Cotton buds can push it in further and impact it, causing hearing problems and pain.

2. Damage to the ear canal and/or drum. The inner 2/3 of the ear canal is made of bone lined with very thin skin. It's extremely sensitive. It's possible to create small abrasions to the skin. You could also bruise your eardrum.

3. The end of the cotton bud can actually come off and get stuck in there. You would then have to see a provider to have it removed.

4. Ear wax is slightly acidic and actually helps to protect the ear canal from bacteria. If your ears are too clean, you can actually develop an irritation and even an infection in the canal.

Make sure you use the ones with cardboard sticks

And yes, I'd agree that you get itchy ears because you've irritated the lining of your ear

Using olive oil and an ear syringe is usually okay. Just ensure that you don't do it too often - ear wax helps to protect the ear from infections, and if your ears are too clean, the canal can become irritated and/or infected.

I can guarantee my ears are NOT self cleaning.
Thats cause the buds fuck it up.

But i still do it.I have to be careful though as i have no eardrum and im afraid it will get lost if it goes too far in

If cotton buds are not supposed to be used in the ear, what exactly are they for? That is literally the only thing I’ve ever used them for.

Not being funny but if a cotton bud wasn’t designed to go down yer ear hole then what is it’s purpose?

Cheers Eminy

Cotton buds are actually intended for use as makeup removers.

What, for removing a very small specific area of makeup? Nope, not buying it!

My dd loves earbuds so I bought her spiral ear cleaners which seem to work as well but take wax out rather than pushing it in ....

Nah joking aside I’ve on occasion blobbed a bit of mascara in the wrong place just as I’ve finished my make up, cotton bud, job done!
But generally, come on!

Couldn't sleep, so came on MN. Now I have itchy ears and neeeeeed to stick a cotton bud down them! Getting out of bed now to get some....

Love using them on my ears but maybe once a week if that, when I feel an itch or something but am careful with going to far after being told off by my GP when I went in with an ear infection! Never use on my DS though - clean his whilst bathing with a flannel.

I do this too. Not sure about the eargasm bit. I do it to clean my ears but they have literally nothing on the cotton buds as I do them pretty much every day. I occasionally get itchy ears and the cotton buds are the only way of satisfyingly soothing the itch.

My ear bleeds everyday when I do this... is that bad? I like doing it too and the blood doesn’t really seem like an issue as it always happens with no consequence. I know this sounds like a really thick question.

I would like one of those ear cleaner spirals.

The only thing that irritates my ears is annoying wax in them. I also think it's possible to get it out rather than pushing it in. It's much easier when you're doing it on somebody else though, but you can do the same thing for yourself if you're careful.

What on earth are some of you people doing to injure your inner ears so badly?!

I use them about once a week or so. It used to be every two to three weeks but I also would have wax fall out of them. My ears get really dirty but it also depends on the city in which you live regarding dirt and pollution build up.

Agree OP - it is lovely!

Unfortunately - I currently have hearing loss from perforating my eardrum by doing exactly this. Expected it to fix itself in month or so but pretty painful and difficult to hear right now..

To everyone saying "but what are cotton buds even FOR if not for sticking in your ear??" the answer is:

The official uses (on the side of the pack) are for cleaning the outer ear, between a baby's fingers and toes, around the nose and eyes, etc. It even has a big warning in capitals not to put them in your ear.

However, the makers KNOW that the vast majority of users are misusing them, ie: poking them down their ears. Just like the vast majority of nitrous oxide cannisters aren't used for whipping cream

And to people saying "but I NEED to clear them, the wax builds up and falls out otherwise" - err, yes, that's what the wax is supposed to do. Wax is secreted in the ear and gradually works its way out in a spiral motion, helped by the action of your jaw until it reaches the opening, at which point it drops out and you wipe it away. It takes with it all the dust, dead skin, and general gunk that might otherwise have got stuck in your ear and damaged it, as well as killing bacteria and repelling insects. STOP POKING IT WITH A COTTON BUD

Do what you want with your own head but please don’t flush them and try to use ones with paper straws if you can.