This is what you shouldn't do when cleaning your ears
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Mistakes people make when cleaning their ears (Twitter)
There is also the weird stuff that collects behind the ears and not forgetting the mess created by wearing earrings.
However, there could be ways you're doing it wrong.
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Cleaning ears with a cotton swab (Courtesy)
1. Cleaning regularly
According to experts, ears are self-cleaning.
"It [the ear] is the only part of the body in which the skin grows in a direction, and brings the wax and skin debris out from the canal to the outer ear," Dr. Boris Chernobilsky, MD, assistant clinical professor of otolaryngology told Health.com.
The ear only makes the amount of wax needed. It is called cerumen and is used to lubricate the ear canal and prevent water from getting in.
2. Rinsing with a syringe
This is best done by an expert, it can lead to feeling as though you have been underwater for a long time.
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Ear syringing (Zenith medical clinic)
3. Using cotton buds
These actually push the wax deeper and can cause damage to the skin and ear drums.
The cotton head can also pop off and remain lodged in the ear.
4. Inserting sharp objects
Keys, biro-pen caps or fingernails can easily cut the skin and cause damage to the ear.
It can lead to injury and result in a leak of fluid from the inner ear. This leads to a possibility of hearing loss and vertigo.
