Q-tips should never go in your ear!

[disneysteve]

Consider this a public service announcement, and an important safety tip.

DON'T EVER PUT A Q-TIP IN YOUR EAR OR YOUR KID'S EAR!

I can't tell you how many patients ignore that warning, which is printed right on the package, and end up in my office with ear damage, sometimes serious damage. Just last week, I saw two patients who punctured their ear drums with Q-tips.

Use Q-tips to apply makeup. Use them to paint models. Use them to detail your car. But never, ever, ever use them in your ears.

 

[mantysk8coach]

Growing up, that is what I thought the sole purpose of a Q-tip was, to clean out your ear! I can see where it could do some damage. I have never used them on my daughter (other than to clean her umbilical stump when she was born), but I admit I've used them in my own ears.

Thanks for the PSA, I'll be more careful!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Yep, while on vacation my BIL had a Sunday Morning trip to the emergency room to get one removed! YIKES!. It broke inside his ear!!!!!!!

 

[becka]

I know that your are not supposed to but I just can't help myself. It is part of my daily routine and it is almost a compulsion. I feel like I am not ready for the day unless I have washed my hair, brushed my teeth and cleaned my ears with a q-tip.

I also use them on my kids but I am so extremely careful and they even make q-tips designed with bigger tips so as not to accidentally go too far in the ear. My kids (especially) DS has an issue with large amounts of earwax draining from his ears and it bothers him if we do not clean them regularly to get all the guncky stuff out.

 

[PaulaSue]

So how are you to get the dirt out then? Honestly asking.

Especially with one DD who has gobs of dirt each bath day (every 2-3 days). I think I do a good job with q-tips but even the Ped. mentions how dirty hers are and had dug out a tons of black hard stuff with what looks like a chopstick.

 

[Pop Daddy]

huh

 

[KarenAylwood]

I know that your are not supposed to but I just can't help myself. It is part of my daily routine and it is almost a compulsion. I feel like I am not ready for the day unless I have washed my hair, brushed my teeth and cleaned my ears with a q-tip.

I'm totally the same way! I know I shouldn't but I can't help it!! I make sure not to go in too far though- there's something about the moisture in my ears after a shower that drives me crazy.

DBF is in med school and always uses Q-tips in his ears. They were volunteering to have different equipment used on them (for instance, one guy had a camera tube shoved up his nose to show inside the nasal cavity, etc). Well, DBF decided to volunteer for the ear one and the doctor yells (in front of the whole class of 125 people) "You use Q-tips in your ears!!! You shouldn't do that!!!"

He was really embarassed

I saw the picture he brought home- it showed little red marks on his skin in there from the Q-tips! I'm sure I have them too

 

[disneymom3]

I have wondered about this too. Both DSs get very gunky ears and I only clean the area that I can see, never into the ear at all. Is that not recommended too? I know some earwax protects the ear, but not when it is making the ear flap area all gooky.

 

[Jeanny]

so how do we get the guck out of our ears????

 

[jennobrn01]

seriously, isn't that really their purpose? will never stop using q-tips in my ears. just use caution.

 

[KarenAylwood]

seriously, isn't that really their purpose? will never stop using q-tips in my ears. just use caution.

I just pulled out my box of Q-tips and whaddayaknow! There's a big ole "CAUTION! DO NOT INSERT IN EAR CANAL" printed on it!!

 

[disykat]

One of our friend's sons put a Q-tip in his ear and his brother ran past him and accidently knocked it into his ear. They're still waiting for it to heal enough to see if he needs some surgical repair work.

My kids constantly have yucky ears, but we're able to keep the outside clean enough with a washcloth. I'd be afraid I'd push stuff further into their ear with a Q-tip.

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

I too know your not supposed to, but just can't help it

 

[BillSears]

I'm one of those people who have it as part of thier daily routine. I've been doing it for decades and haven't noticed any problems.

I think the Q-tip people would notice a huge drop in sales if we all stopped doing it.

 

[MosMom]

I'm overweight, I talk to strangers, and I stick Q-tips in my ear....I'm a total loss.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I'm overweight, I talk to strangers, and I stick Q-tips in my ear....I'm a total loss.

Nah, only if you reuse your refillable mug... THEN and only THEN will you be a total loss




For some reason this Q-tip thread is keeping me up.

I need to get to bed- work tomorrow!

 

[ktpool]

I am going to ear-cleaner purgatory! I use the little scrape-y things from the doctors office to get the gunk out. I steal them at my annual visits!!

 

[arkansas mom]

I get the itchies way down in my ear. I figure it's all the Q-Tip fuzz accumualted over 37 years. Best way to scratch the itch? Q-Tip!

sorry. i know I shouldn't do it. But at least I don't smoke. And I always brush my gums and floss.

 

[Michelina]

Seriously, doesn't everyone (maybe everyone but doctors) use Q-Tips to clean out their ears? You don't wanna be jamming it in there but how else do you clean them?
At least it's better than the thin metal scoopy spoons that some Asian people use. My mom is Korean and swears by them.

 

[Viking]

Why do you think evolution made our ear canals smaller than our fingers?