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The strange life of Q-tips, the most bizarre thing people buy
- beachstartup 11y agothis is how they clean ears in asia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_pick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_pick
- to3m 11y agoI think you'd need the cotton bit for Western-style earwax (which I suspect dominates in the US - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwax#Physiology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwax#Physiology), or some water. But it could just be a question of technique.
- rcthompson 11y agoToday I learned that there are different kinds of earwax.
- hkmurakami 11y agoBeen using the bamboo kind for my entire life. The cotton part gets disgusting after prolonged use though so I prefer just getting ones without the cotton.
- eknkc 11y agoIn Turkey, we've been literally calling them "ear sticks" (kulak çöpü). Only recently It started changing. When the name is that, it makes sense to poke your ears with them. I tell people not to use them in their ears but everyone is so used to the idea, it sounds absurd when you argue that ear sticks are bad for ears.
- Scoundreller 11y agoYep, it's right up there with wearing socks so you don't catch a cold.
- anon4 11y agoBulgaria, too. I suspect that's the generic name they use in a lot of countries. In their defence, they are meant for cleaning your ears, just not your ear canal.
- kbart 11y agoWe still cal them similar in Lithuania, literal translation would be something like "hygienic earpick" (like toothpick). Actually, only after reading this article I realized they are not for cleaning your ears. I don't use Q-tips to remove wax from the ear canal, but I use them to dry my ears after taking a bath. Though, I still believe it's a legitimate use as going out with your ears dry is much riskier to catch fever imho.
- subnaught 11y agoWhen a friend was in med school, she was told by an ear doctor that a Q-tip removes only material that would have fallen out naturally, while at the same time pushing everything else in further. The doctor also said that Q-tips are what keep them in business.
- rhino369 11y agoWhen I first heard that I wasn't supposed to use qtips my ears I stopped. Couple months later the wax built up and sealed my ears so I couldn't hear. I thought I went deaf over night. I had to have a doctor pull out a gross amount of ear wax. They must be doing something for me. I went back to them and it never happened again. Could be a coincidence I guess.
- cmurf 11y agoVegetable oil +cotton for 30 minutes, then irrigate with a waterpik on low. But really if it's cleaned out and you never stick anything in your ear, it'll clean itself out.
- newday 11y agoI wouldn't recommend an oil that dried or goes rancid, this is an opportunity to create a substrate for bacteria. Mineral oil would seem like a better choice, and since it doesn't dry, you won't accidentally make the situation worse.
- frogpelt 11y agoI've heard that cleaning your ears causes more wax to be produced. Maybe this is why your ears ended up chock full.
- pc2g4d 11y agoI could definitely believe that. Something along the lines of "using chapstick makes your lips produce less moisture, thus making the chapstick seem more necessary". Our bodies like their equilibria and will adjust to preserve them when interfered with.
- ricardobeat 11y agoThe ones who keep coming back with infections are the ones who don't listen. It's not every day you see an article on a major publication end with such a shameless pun.
- taternuts 11y agoSo I guess the moral of the story is that you should never be sticking anything into your ear canal?
- randycupertino 11y agoNothing smaller than your elbow.
- jasperry 11y agoI've actually heard this one, but I think it's "smaller".
- randycupertino 11y agoAck, you're right! Corrected.
- stan_rogers 11y agoI would venture to guess that cramming something larger than your elbow into your ear canal would be likely to have some serious medical consequences as well. (I'm not convinced that using something precisely elbow-sized is entirely safe either.)
- Jtsummers 11y agoThat's always been the point of the expression, from my understanding. Nothing the size of your elbow will fit into your ear (without seriously screwing up your day). So if you are only allowed to stick things that size or larger in, then nothing should go in your ear (canal).
- haberman 11y agoThe whole story sounds like a huge case of selection bias. Doctors encounter lots of people whose ear injuries are attributable to Q-tips. They therefore conclude that Q-tips should never be used to clean ears. But people who know how to clean their ears without damaging them don't go to the doctor to complain about their healthy ears. For example, pushing the wax inwards is obviously a bad idea, but this can be avoided.
- soared 11y agoDid you read the article? You don't need to, and in fact aren't supposed to, clean your ears.
- zachrose 11y agoYeah but you might also say that about getting your tongue pierced.
- haberman 11y agoYes I read the article. Did you read this? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10943097 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10943097 Our bodies don't always fit into people's preconceived notions of how things are "supposed" to work.
- galago 11y agoA couple years ago, one of my ears had wax buildup that made it hard to hear; the nurse who treated me didn't use a Q-Tip, but rather a syringe filled with warm water. She basically said the same things as the article, that removing wax Q-Tip style causes ear infections and risks other damage because wax protects the ear. I think she suggested that people with chronic wax issues might consider getting the syringe thing for home use.
- rdancer 11y agoYou don't need to floss or wipe your butt either, but not everybody is a Tarzan.
- derekp7 11y agoIf you frequently get large amounts of ear wax buildup to the point where it is blocking your hearing, there is a product called Maurine ear wax removal kit, which does work effectively (I have to use it about once every couple years). It is sort of an oily type of drops that you put in your ear, leave it (with your head tilted sideways) for a half our or so, and it ends up crystallizing the wax so that it will fall out naturally. You can actually hear it working, ind of like a bubbling sound. Afterwords you use the bulb syringe that comes with the kit to flush out the ear canal.
- rdancer 11y ago... or you can just use a Q-Tip.
- Scoundreller 11y ago... which just mixes and pushes it in more into your own personal fatberg...
- rdancer 11y agoI want to please see a video showing how you do it to achieve that. Never mind that it'd be bad technique. I posit that it's actually not possible, that it is a scary story for kids on par with getting blind from masturbation.
- jtheory 11y agoEh, they really don't work well for cleaning the ear canal, though. I have ear canals that I thought needed to be cleaned regularly, until I stopped using Q-tips. Now they only seem to need to be cleaned once every 4 years or so (if I notice sound getting a bit muffled), with a syringe and sink full of warm water. I had thought the Q-tips were cleaning them, but were definitely causing more problems than they solved. (Ditto for ear drops, which didn't seem to help much. Just taking the time with a syringe & warm water is better). My pediatrician uses little metal tools to clean out the kids' ears if needed. Better than a blunt, soft thing that can't easily get wax out rather than push it in, though of course you'd better hold still.
- rdancer 11y ago"[T]o twist Q-tips in our ears [...] feels great. [...] Tickling their insides triggers all sorts of visceral pleasure." Is this article coming from some alternate reality where people clean their ears for some dangerous guilty pleasure, and ear wax does not need to be cleaned away just as any other bodily secretion?
- craftkiller 11y agoIt's both for me. I've definitely done an extra swipe or two for the pleasure, but mostly its just cleaning for me.
- graeme 11y agoThe wax is there for a reason. Generally speaking, the wax should be left alone unless it's causing a specific problem. There's a list of circumstances in which to remove ear wax here. And note that an article like this is written because doctors know people will try to remove wax when they don't need to, or via dangerous methods. http://www.entnet.org/content/earwax-and-care http://www.entnet.org/content/earwax-and-care
- njloof 11y agoThe article also notes that sticking candles in your ears may result in burns. I expect to return to that page in another ten years and read, "Putting ice picks in your ears can result in bleeding. Christ, what is wrong with you people?"
- fractalcat 11y agoThe article is referring to ear candling[0], an alternative-medicine practice espoused by naturopaths and other such quacks. It's sadly quite common. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling
- kbart 11y agoWhat?? I can't believe this is really happening, it's the funniest thing I've read this week.
- rocky1138 11y agoThere is a third option to their two: rename the product to Q-Tips, Everything But Ears!
- Zigurd 11y agoThere is another product category called "ear spoons" which don't seem to have been stigmatized like Q-Tips. Why so?
- tarikjn 11y agoBecause they are the right tool that most people using Q-tips should be using instead. Surprised that this article doesn't cover that.
- robbrown451 11y agoFirst of all, cleaning your ear canals with Q-Tips feels really good. That seems important, but they don't mention this at all. Secondly, sure, the wax will fall out on its own if you don't Q-tip it....but do you like looking at people with little gobs of wax falling out of their ears? I clean my ears regularly with Q-tips for those two reasons. Yes I stick them in the ear canal. No I don't push the wax deeper (you just need to twist as you put it in). And no I've never in my 50 years had an ear infection or hurt the eardrum.
- jtheory 11y agoIf you shower regularly and wash the parts of your ears that you can reach (as one does) you won't have problems with loose wax falling out of your ears during the day.
- joveian 11y agoNot true for all of us. I sometimes (not all the time) get very rapid wax buildup, to the point where it can affect my hearing within days. Other times I can be fine for months without cleaning my ears. OTOH, using Q-tips after I shower prevents it from ever being a problem and clears out the water that might otherwise feel odd on occasion when it doesn't dry quickly for some reason (I'm guessing due to excess wax buildup). I've tried hydrogen peroxide, but it takes much longer, wasn't particularly effective, makes me dizzy, and also doesn't always dry. Q-tips work and have never caused me trouble. P.S. Neat trick: if you pull your ear up and back a bit, your canal straightens.
- jrockway 11y ago> First of all, cleaning your ear canals with Q-Tips feels really good. That seems important, but they don't mention this at all. Actually, they use almost the exact wording you used to explain this in the article: > We continue to twist Q-tips in our ears thanks to a simple truth: It feels great. I thought this was especially interesting. The thought of putting a Q-tip in my ear freaks me out big time. (Surely I've done it at least once, and I remember it making a loud noise, and it feeling like you're going to puncture your eardrum. And I have no real sensitivity in my ears, I've slept with earplugs every night for a decade!)
- oxplot 11y agoMy grandma used to use the loop side of a safety pin to clean her ears. I personally use q-tips but I only do the twist thing at the very entrance of the canal. The point is to keep a clean "appearance".
- escape_goat 11y agoHumans have two entirely different types of ear wax, determined by heredity, named "dry" ear wax and "wet" ear wax. I am mentioning this because I only came across the information recently, despite having had problems with itchy ears for years, and despite having participated in many discussions about ear wax. I can see that there are already some strong disagreements beginning here in the comments. The two varieties have significantly different properties. "Dry" ear wax tends to be crumbly and flaky, and can usually be removed effectively with a curette (if you dare). "Wet" ear tends to be dark, smelly, and sticky. I do not think that people with dry ear wax, in particular, really understand what people with "wet" ear wax are saying when they talk about ear wax buildup and removal.
- tmnvix 11y agoI don't recall the source, but I remember learning that dry earwax is almost unheard of in people of African and European descent. It's most common in Asian people. Even more interesting is that there is apparently a very strong correlation between the type of earwax you have and whether or not your body odour (sweat-related) is strong. I was surprised to learn that many asian people never use deodorant because they simply don't need it.
- anon4 11y agoThat's weird. I have dry earwax and my brother has the wet variety.
- escape_goat 11y agoDry earwax is a recessive trait. Here's a nice source I found when fact [double] checking my answer if you'd like to read more: http://udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythearwax.html http://udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythearwax.html
- tmnvix 11y agoI'm curious to know if he's the smellier one.
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- YokoZar 11y agoI find it hard to blame Q-tips when common ear buds these days go just as far in the ear.
- baby 11y agoYup. I don't understand that and I've looked everywhere to see if intra-ear earplugs were dangerous. Nothing.
- nibnib 11y agoMost ear buds are larger and don't get twisted or worked around in there. I think the health issues predate ear buds too. I am curious if ear buds case the same injuries though.
- mrweasel 11y agoI've only read about people sticking Q-tips in their ears. The only real-life use I've seen is make-up removal.
- cmcginty 11y agoWell, I agree that Q-Tips have the potential to do more harm then good, but this probably the extreme 1% of cases. I think the key takeaway is never try to reach back to your ear drum, and don't make it a daily habit. I occasionally use q-tips to clean my ears 6 to 8 times a year and have never had any issue with wax or infections. The real ear "killer" out there is loud noise and daily abuse. You're more likely to damage your ears listening to earbuds 8 hours, Mon to Fri or going to a monthly concert/club with 100+dB for 4 to 6 hours with no ear protection. Talk to an ENT about serious issue like tinnitus and they'll tell you with a straight face that a) they don't really know what causes it and b) the prescribed treatment is "just try to ignore it". It doesn't produce a lot of faith that the science is really there. For me this article is closer to fad nutrition advice that consistently contradicts the previous reports.
- evolve2k 11y agoHere in Australia at most pharmacists/chemists/drug stores you can buy ear candles. With the help of a friend you lie on one side, place the candle funnel in your ear and light the far end. The concept being that as the candle gets hotter the heat draws earwax and gunk out of your ear. It's meant to be pretty safe (as long as you don't let the candle burn you/anything around you. I've since heard that the candles might not actually work, anyone know anything on this ear clearing option?
- pherq 11y agoThey're covered early on in Bad Science, the short answer is that they do nothing except put you at risk of burns from wax, etc. You can test this fairly easily by putting one above a dusty surface and noting that it wont disturbe the dust beneath it.
- ssanders82 11y agoI've heard that these produce a substantial amount of discharge which is intended to impress you with what they removed from your body, but if you cut them open you will see the "earwax" was pre-installed in the candle.
- mafro 11y agoI can't believe they wrote so much about what we English call cotton buds. Interesting tale, though.
- mchahn 11y agoThe generic name in america is cotton swabs. Cotton buds are the generic name in the U.K.
- frgewut 11y agoIs it safe to use finger for cleaning ears?
- throwaway7767 11y agoFun fact: in Iceland, Q-tips are called "Eyrnapinnar", which literally means "ear pins".
- Grue3 11y agoI remember when I was little, my mother used to clean my ears with those against my will. "We continue to twist Q-tips in our ears thanks to a simple truth: It feels great." Well, to me it felt awful and obviously I never used those myself. Now I can feel smugly superior because even as a baby I knew these things are bullshit.
- ncw33 11y agoIndeed, I clicked on the link because I thought, "That's interesting, I wonder what a Q-tip is". Then I found it was just another name for a cotton bud, and was disappointed: I'm sure there are more bizarre items than that!
- msamwald 11y agoThe odd thing is that articles on the topic and seemingly all medical doctors assume that there is only a single way in which Q-tips can be used for ear cleaning purposes. I think that there are several possible ways besides simply inserting the Q-tip in a straight motion and thereby pushing earwax towards the tympanum. Personally, the way I use Q-tips is to insert them from below the ear at a 45 degree angle, constantly rotating the Q-tip and then performing a swipe around the ear canal while keeping up the rotating motion (resembling the precession movement of a gyroscope). Using this technique, I never had any issues with pushing earwax towards the tympanum or irritating the ear canal. The advantages are less itching in the ear canal caused by ear wax, and having no visible crumbles of ear wax falling out of my ears. I seem to have the "wet" ear wax type. It seems like this is a common and weird instance of problems that re-occur when medical professionals give advice to patients and the general public: * Lack of insight into why people are exhibiting the behaviour. For me at least, the natural buildup of ear wax produces itching, and using Q-tips is a significant relief. In the re-occuring advice to the public by medical professionals this seems to be ignored. * Lack of understanding of the importance of aesthetics. Yes, it might be natural to have large crumbs of ear wax visibly protruding from your ear canal, but that does not make it irrational to dislike how it looks. Ignorance of such social factors leads to 'unexplained' lack of compliance with medical advice, which in turn leads to a decrease in the quality of doctor-patient relationship and ineffective public health interventions. * Lack of interest in harm reduction approaches. For several decades articles like the OP have been published, seemingly with minor or no effect on actual practices. It might be more reasonable to accept that people are very keen on cleaning their ears, and to find strategies to reduce the potential harm while still letting people do what they want. Simple advice on HOW to use a Q-tip without harming yourself (don't push in too much, don't push in straight if you really can't do without it) might have more overall positive impact.
- shoover 11y agoReading this is thread is making my ears itch.