Can frequent ear cleaning cause cancer
Release time : 03/23/2025 09:30:02
Many mothers believe that they have a "cleanliness compulsion". Once they notice that their baby's ear has ear wax or other secretions, they will immediately use cotton swabs or other tools to clean the ears of the baby, removing the "dirty things" from the ear.
However, according to hospital outpatient data, 85% of babies suffering from ear infections every year are caused by improperly cleaning their ears! Additionally, there have been reports that long-term ear cleaning can potentially lead to cancer. Ah, my goodness! Is this really true? Let's discuss whether it's necessary to clean the dirt in a baby's ear... Is frequent ear cleaning really carcinogenic? Many mothers have a habit of cleaning their baby's ears, but a recent news report has alarmed many parents. It was reported that a man in Chengdu developed a mammary tumor in his external auditory canal due to prolonged ear cleaning! Does frequent ear cleaning lead to cancer? Is this true? Frequent ear cleaning does not cause cancer. According to Dr. Yi from the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of Guilin Second People's Hospital, generally speaking, only if the force used during ear cleaning is too strong, damaging the external auditory canal or the drum membrane, leading to external auditory canal inflammation or otitis media, and then after long-term stimulation, a mammary tumor in the external auditory canal may occur, but the likelihood of this is very low.
While frequent ear cleaning may not necessarily cause cancer, it can disrupt the acidic environment within the ear canal, adversely affecting hearing health.
According to the hospital outpatient data, more than 85% of children with otitis externa have a habit of picking their ears or directly cause injury by earpicking.
Babies' external auditory canals differ from those of adults; the skin is delicate, closely connected to the cartilaginous membrane, and has less subcutaneous tissue, resulting in poor blood circulation. It is challenging for parents to gauge the right amount of force during ear cleaning, and improper application can easily lead to damage and infections in the external auditory canal, causing conditions such as external otitis, inflammation, and even necrosis. Such injuries can cause severe pain, affecting the ability to open and chew.
Should children pluck their earwax? Generally speaking, it is easier for babies under 3 years to have ear wax. However, mothers do not need to deliberately clean them.
This is because earwax is used to protect the ears. It guards the door to the external auditory canal like a sentry.
Earwax in the ears is also called "cerumen", which is a substance secreted by the cerumen glands in the external auditory canal.
Earwax usually falls off automatically with the shaking of the person's head, body shaking, mouth chewing food, etc., and generally does not require special cleaning.
Having a small amount of earwax in your baby's ears will not affect hearing. Instead, it will act as a barrier to block dust, worms and other substances, protecting the external auditory canal.
Not only that, for babies whose ears have not yet fully developed, earwax is also a protective umbrella-various sound waves are transmitted into the ears through the ear canal, causing the eardrum to vibrate, and the ears can hear the sound. However, if the sound waves are too strong, such as thunder, explosion, etc., the eardrum will be violently shaken, which may easily cause damage.
For babies who have no ability to protect themselves, this kind of harm is even more serious.
At this time, earwax can be like a muffler, blocking out those sounds that are very violent for the baby, weakening the impact of sound waves on the eardrum, protecting the eardrum, and thus protecting the baby's hearing.
Seeing this, was Bao Ma stunned? Small earwax can actually have such a big effect... How to properly pick out children's ears? If Bao Ma wants to pick out her baby's ears, she can only choose the earwax near the ear opening that can be seen with the naked eye for simple treatment, rather than picking out the cerumen inside the ears.
However, ear cleaning for babies is a delicate task. With babies being active and easily flailing during the process, parents can easily harm their baby's fragile eardrums.
So, how can you clean the baby's ear canal successfully? Mommy can wet a clean towel and wring it dry. Then take one corner of the towel and fold it into your finger to gently wipe the outer part of the baby's ear canal.
You can also opt for baby-specific cotton swabs on the market, as they are soft and durable, with fibers that do not come loose, making them suitable for cleaning the baby's ears.
However, mothers should never insert cotton swabs deeply into a baby's ear canal or any other inaccessible area. Instead, they should only clean the visible parts of the external auditory meatus around the ear.
When cleaning the ear canal of a baby, it is crucial to be gentle! This is because the skin around a baby's ears is very delicate and can easily be damaged if not handled with care. It is strictly forbidden to use sharp objects such as nails, iron bars, or hairpins to clean the ears of a baby.
Additionally, if the mother-to-be lacks competent skills and cannot control the cleaning intensity, it is recommended to bring the baby to a hospital for professional cleaning by doctors using specialized tools.
To ensure the health of your baby, do not be negligent! When it comes to caring for a baby's ears, there are several points to pay attention to during their daily hygiene routine. Let's take a look at them now! 1. If you notice moisture around the opening of the baby's ear canal after bathing them, gently wipe with an infant cotton swab.
Absolutely, you must never insert a cotton swab into your baby's ear canal.
If the ear canal becomes wet, you can gently wipe it with a soft cotton swab. Ensure that your baby's head is securely in place during the cleaning process. If there is concern that the water has not been completely removed, you can use a hairdryer (make sure it's not too close to your baby's ears; adjust to the lowest setting) to gently blow the ear dry.
When bathing your baby, you can press the baby's ears from back to front against the face to prevent water from entering their ears.
2. When a baby has a cold and otitis media, it is best not to fly.
At this time, the Eustachian tube is in a state of edema, and both take-off and landing can exacerbate the pressure on the ear.
3. Avoid keeping babies in a noisy environment for a long time.
Excessive loud TVs, music or other sounds can harm the cells that line the ear canal and subsequently affect hearing.
At the same time, parents should also avoid shouting and speaking loudly in front of a newborn baby.
4. According to research findings, cigarette smoke is one of the major causes of exudate otitis media in infants aged 0-3 years.
Harmful substances in cigarettes have a direct irritating effect on the baby's delicate middle ear mucosa, making it easier for bacteria to survive and reproduce, thereby reducing resistance. Once the bacteria enter the middle ear, it is easy to cause infection.
Therefore, for the sake of your baby's health, try to avoid your baby's exposure to second-hand smoke.
* The medical part covered in this article is for reading and reference only.
If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.