EAR experts have warned social media users to be wary of a viral cleaning trend – as it can cause deafness.
TikTok has become renowned for its tips and hacks spanning from beauty to home.
A new cleaning trend has taken TikTok by storm but experts are warning against itCredit: Alamy
But research should be carried out before trying them, experts have warned.
The Hearing Care Partnership looked into videos relating to ‘ear cleaning at home’, ‘at home earwax removal’ and were alarmed to find a dangerous tool going viral on the platform.
Retailing for as little as £3.75, the viral Bluetooth ear-cleaning camera tool accounted for 40 per cent of all videos that showed ear-cleaning tools and amassed over 1.1 million views.
Various videos show users placing the device down into their ear canal and using the app on their phone to view inside their ears whilst scraping out any wax they found, seemingly oblivious to the consequences of using such a tool.
Audiologist, Ashish Shah urges users to steer clear of this inexpensive and accessible tool.
He said: “Just because you can see into your ear, does not mean that you know what you are looking at.
“Ear canals come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with twists and turns, so whilst most are between 25 – 30mm long you can quickly end up very close to the eardrum without realising.
“Damage to the eardrum such as perforation is very painful and can cause hearing loss and scarring.
“Abrasions are another possibility, which can lead to infections if bacteria find their way into the cuts.
“There are also a lot of nerves and blood vessels that run around the ear canal, which can get very irritated when anything is put into the ear. So any home camera tool is a bad idea.”
Instead, Ashish recommends only one thing to clean your ears at home as a last resort if you are unable to get professional help.
The £3.75 device uses a camera which is inserted into the ear to “help clean it,” but experts have a strong warning to any usersCredit: Amazon
Medicated olive oil
There is no need to clean your ears as they are self cleaning.
Ashish adds: “Your ears will naturally move wax and dead skin out of the ear canal.
“It is good to have some wax in the ears as it is a protection mechanism, it helps to stop bacteria and foreign bodies getting to the eardrum and damaging it.
“However, sometimes we will get a larger build up of wax which our ears will struggle to get rid of at which point the best option is to seek professional wax removal.
“If for any reason you are unable to do this, then the only thing that you should put into your ears is medicated olive oil.
“This is available from any pharmacy – but make sure to clear this with your GP beforehand.”
How do I use it efficiently?
Tilt your head to the side and drop 2-3 drops into the ear, making sure to avoid touching your ear with the end of the dropper to avoid contamination.
Keep your head tilted, leaving the medicated oil to work for a few minutes, before wiping any excess oil away with a clean tissue.
Repeat on the other ear.
Repeat these steps up to a couple of times a day until hardened earwax appears to have softened.
Ashish adds: “If you have persistent issues with wax build-up then please consult your GP or seek professional wax removal!”
