How many of you out there have ever attempted to dig out the hardened earwax out of your ear with a cotton bar? How many of you have tried the same research in your ear with a hairpin, paper clip or a twisted napkin? The number will be pretty high! No matter how many times we are advised not to do so, we convince ourselves that a few quick dabs around the ear will do no harm. However, medical science says it does. Thus the saying: Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear!

Why we should not disturb the ear wax
* Ear wax is formed in the outer part of the canal close to the external opening. It is a substance which is composed of layers of shed skin, long-chain fatty acids, antimicrobial peptides, cholesterol and alcohols. It is meant to protect our inner part of the ear from water, infections, bacteria and fungi.
* Our ears follow their own cleaning mechanism. Fats, lipids and oils in the ear canal entrap the unwanted particles and help them come out of the ear without us noticing. For example, when we move our jaw while eating, the ears start their cleaning mechanism.
* When we attempt to clean our ear wax with a foreign object, we basically push the wax further into the ear canal against the ear drum. The ear canal has a very delicate skin, so does the eardrum. The eardrum is very thin and fragile, so probing the ear with a foreign object can end up rupturing or perforating the eardrum.
Ruptured Eardrum
A ruptured or perforated eardrum is when there is a tear or hole in the eardrum. Eardrum injuries can be extremely painful and, in the worst cases, might lead to infections and hearing loss. A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. Sometimes, you may need a procedure to promote healing of a ruptured eardrum or need surgical repair for a ruptured eardrum.
Signs and symptoms of a ruptured
eardrum:
* Consistent pain in the ear that stops suddenly
* Clear, pus-filled or bloody drainage from the ear
* Hearing loss
* Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
* Spinning sensation (vertigo)
* Nausea or vomiting that can result from vertigo

When to see a doctor
Call your doctor if you experience any of the signs or symptoms of a ruptured or perforated eardrum or pain or discomfort in your ears. Your middle and inner ears are composed of delicate mechanisms that are sensitive to injury or disease. Prompt and appropriate treatment is important to preserve your hearing.

Treatment
* Usually, eardrum injuries heal on their own within a few weeks without any treatment. While the eardrum is healing, over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease any pain. Consult with your doctor about which pain relievers are best for your child.
* Never take over-the-counter ear drops unless your doctor recommends it. Some drops are not meant to be used if there is a hole in the eardrum because they can cause problems with the middle ear or cochlea.
* To protect the eardrum while it heals, your doctor may advise keeping your ear dry. Keep your head above water while swimming, and place a waterproof earplug or cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly in the ear when you shower or bathe.
* In cases where ruptured or perforated eardrums don't heal on their own, your doctor may recommend an eardrum patch for your ear. This procedure might have to be done a number of times before the eardrum is fully healed.

Prevention
Never stick anything in your ears — like cotton swabs — and teach kids to do the same. Regular bathing should be enough to keep earwax at normal levels. If your child complains of discomfort in the ear and you see earwax in the ear, it's OK to wipe the outside of the ear with a wash cloth.
Even after knowing the ear wax tale, there are many people who still want to remove their wax out of the ear. If the wax does not bother you, then stop bothering your ear. But if the ear-wax becomes so excessive and hard that it start interfering with hearing, you may want to wash it out. The best advice is to head to a doctor and have your cleaning done by a professional.

Source: Internet