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It's not about mechanically causing build-up or impaction. It's about not disturbing the natural cerumen flow (epithelial migration). Cerumen will thinly coat

It's not about mechanically causing build-up or impaction. It's about not disturbing the natural cerumen flow (epithelial migration). Cerumen will thinly coat the ear canal to protect it. When you mess with that flow, you create little build-ups, kind of like road traffic. This accumulates and create the equivalent of a traffic jam. This is also why Q-tips users swear by them: they are creating the issue that requires the Q-tips in the first place. Worth noting that not all humans have the same kind of cerumen. There is wet cerumen (dominant, 50%) and dry cerumen (20%). It depends on your genetic. If you are asian, chances are that your cerumen will be harder and require scooping out. Again, this is done with a little spoon by a third-party or by using one carefully (they also come with cameras and flashlights). You remove the build-up with accuracy, you don't just jam cotton in there and randomly scrape at your ear canal.

satisfaction 6y ago
Do the other 30% have no ear wax?
- Raphmedia 6y ago
  Apologies, this was very poorly worded. I edited that post many times and those parenthesis lost their meanings. Wet cerumen is 50% lipid and dry cerumen is 20% lipid. If you want demographics, I've found online that: "dry earwax is very common (80-95 per cent) among East Asians, but is lower (30-50 per cent) in southern Asia, Pacific Islands, Central Asia and Asia Minor, and in Native North Americans and Inuit peoples of Asian ancestry. It's very uncommon among Europeans and Africans (0-3 per cent)". http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/04/14/4213402.htm http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/04/14/4213402.ht...
rendall 6y ago
> "Cerumen will thinly coat the ear canal to protect it. When you mess with that flow, you create little build-ups, kind of like road traffic." I think the issue is that there is little evidence for Q-tips causing problems. With sincere respect, to me, this sounds like a "just-so story", a plausible-sounding explanation without actual basis. > "Again, this is done with a little spoon by a third-party or by using one carefully (they also come with cameras and flashlights). You remove the build-up with accuracy, you don't just jam cotton in there and randomly scrape at your ear canal." It sounds like the issue is not "little spoon" versus "cotton swab" but "accuracy" versus "jamming". Anyone jamming anything in their ear is gonna have problems, whether or not it's a little spoon or a cotton swab. If you can acknowledge that people can carefully use a little spoon on their own just by care and feel, then logically you would have to acknowledge that some people, perhaps those with wet earwax, can do the same with cotton swabs.

satisfaction 6y ago

Do the other 30% have no ear wax?

Raphmedia 6y ago
Apologies, this was very poorly worded. I edited that post many times and those parenthesis lost their meanings. Wet cerumen is 50% lipid and dry cerumen is 20% lipid. If you want demographics, I've found online that: "dry earwax is very common (80-95 per cent) among East Asians, but is lower (30-50 per cent) in southern Asia, Pacific Islands, Central Asia and Asia Minor, and in Native North Americans and Inuit peoples of Asian ancestry. It's very uncommon among Europeans and Africans (0-3 per cent)". http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/04/14/4213402.htm http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2015/04/14/4213402.ht...

rendall 6y ago

> "Cerumen will thinly coat the ear canal to protect it. When you mess with that flow, you create little build-ups, kind of like road traffic." I think the issue is that there is little evidence for Q-tips causing problems. With sincere respect, to me, this sounds like a "just-so story", a plausible-sounding explanation without actual basis. > "Again, this is done with a little spoon by a third-party or by using one carefully (they also come with cameras and flashlights). You remove the build-up with accuracy, you don't just jam cotton in there and randomly scrape at your ear canal." It sounds like the issue is not "little spoon" versus "cotton swab" but "accuracy" versus "jamming". Anyone jamming anything in their ear is gonna have problems, whether or not it's a little spoon or a cotton swab. If you can acknowledge that people can carefully use a little spoon on their own just by care and feel, then logically you would have to acknowledge that some people, perhaps those with wet earwax, can do the same with cotton swabs.