Ear Candles: Why This Earwax Removal Method Doesn’t Work (2024)

FAQs

Ear Candles: Why This Earwax Removal Method Doesn’t Work? ›

Ear candles can be extremely dangerous and are not recommended by experts in ear health. Numerous studies have found no scientific evidence that the candles pull debris from the ear. In some instances, they even found an increase in wax as a result of candle wax deposits.

The temperatures produced by the candle were below body temperature, far too low to melt the wax. The debris inside burned candles is supposed to be the impurities removed from your ear, but it shows up in the candles even if they haven't been near an ear canal.

Ear cleaning drops may not work if you have too much earwax or a condition called impacted cerumen (when there's a firm wax plug blocking your ear canal). “When it's a plug, putting peroxide in your ear may make things worse because you're softening the plug but not dissolving or removing it,” Dr. Nguyen-Huynh says.

Treatment options include: Medicines dropped into the ear canal, to soften the earwax and slowly break it down. Irrigation of the ear canal with water in your provider's office. Manual removal, using special tools in your provider's office.

Earwax removal tips

Instead, soak a cotton ball and drip a few drops of plain water, a simple saline solution, or hydrogen peroxide into the ear with your head tilted so the opening of the ear is pointing up. Keep it in that position for a minute to allow gravity to pull the fluid down through the wax.

Also known as “ear coning,” this technique involves placing a hollow candle soaked in beeswax or paraffin inside the ear. The far end of the candle is lit and the heat allegedly produces suction that is supposed to draw out the ear wax, debris and bacteria from inside the ear canal.

Your provider can also flush out the wax using a syringe filled with warm water and saline or diluted hydrogen peroxide. Medicated ear drops may also be recommended to help soften the wax, such as carbamide peroxide (Debrox Earwax Removal Kit, Murine Ear Wax Removal System).

If the aim is to completely break down the wax, waxsol, peroxide 3% or a sodium bicarbonate solution (which can be prepared by your local pharmacist) is effective.

Untreated earwax buildup can lead to hearing loss, irritation, pain in your ear, dizziness, ringing in your ears and other issues. In most cases, earwax impaction isn't dangerous and symptoms go away with treatment.

When cleaning the ear, you can accidentally push the wax deeper, causing a blockage. Your ear canal produces a waxy oil called cerumen, which is more commonly known as earwax. This wax protects the ear from dust, foreign particles, and microorganisms.

What to do if earwax is stuck? ›

Ear drops:

Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.

Some ears produce no ear wax which results in dry and itchy ear skin. Sometimes people compulsively clean their ears and dry them out by removing the natural wax. Dry ears tend to accumulate flakes of dry dead skin. For people who just lack ear wax, occasional insertion of a few drops of vegetable oil can be helpful.

Earwax usually falls out on its own. If it does not, and builds up and blocks your ear, you can try to remove it.

Soak a cotton ball with the hydrogen peroxide. Tilt your head and drip the peroxide into your ear. You may hear it fizz as it tries to dissolve the earwax. After about 30 seconds, drain your ear onto a washcloth.

A common method for earwax removal is to add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to a damp cotton ball and apply it to the affected ear. Hydrogen peroxide is a common antiseptic. A person can also use a clean eyedropper to drip the solution into the ear canal.

Ear candling, which is sometimes called ear coning, is a technique that uses a long hollow wax paper tube. One end is placed in the ear and the other end is lit. Proponents say the burning candle creates a vacuum that draws out ear wax and can help with things like ringing in the ears and sinus pressure.

The theory of ear candling is that the heat from the candle creates a vacuum and draws out your excess earwax. Most products will show you evidence of this at the end of the candle when done “correctly.” Unfortunately, we can't find any evidence of this working effectively and neither can other medical professionals.

Ear drops:

Ear drops alone will clear a plug of earwax in most cases. Put 2 or 3 drops of ordinary olive oil down the ear 2 or 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks. This softens the wax so that it then runs out of its own accord without harming the ear. You can continue for any length of time, but 3 weeks is usually enough.

Over-the-counter solutions

Look for water-based ear drops with ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, acetic acid, docusate sodium, or sodium bicarbonate. You can also consider oil-based ear drops for earwax removal. Look for those with peanut, olive, or almond oils.