Shouldn't you scratch your ears?

Shouldn't you scratch your ears?

March 17, 16:40

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Itchy ears.

At that time, I think there are many people who suddenly reach for their earpicks.

It feels like it's tickling, but it feels like it's hitting an acupuncture point.

It is good, is not it?

… But it may be better to be careful.

What you can see in this article-

Unknown identity of

earwax-Why you don't need ear-cleaning-What is the

correct ear-cleaning method?

　It is also explained in the video

(Network News Department reporter Kayoko Tamaki Hiromi Akimoto Shinichiro Kuninaka)

Do you do "earpick"?

Would you like to do it?

Earpicks that everyone has done.

The other day, there was a lot of discussion on SNS that "you don't have to do it" and "you should do it".

(Voice on Twitter)

"Since the childcare book said that earpicks should only be near the holes, if I hadn't scratched my child's ears, I would have to get stuck inside and dissolve the earwax with ear drops.

" When I heard that my child shouldn't do it, I was told that it was hard to hear, and when I saw it, there was a big lump in the back.

" Nothing is said, but the younger child will be notified that he is blocked by earwax. "

Looking at it, it seems that there are many posts by people who are raising children or who seem to have many opportunities to interact with the elderly.

"When I pulled out the ticked earwax with tweezers, I saw something like a turban shell with the shape of the ear hole several times a year."

I was able to talk to a man who was a caregiver who used to work at a long-term care facility who posted such a post.

It is said that elderly people who use the facility were cleaning their ears about once a week, and they often encountered the "tick earwax" they posted.

The man who posted it

"I found it when I was cleaning my ears and was able to visually check it, or when I was assisting with meals. When the user told me that I couldn't hear only one ear, I found earwax. Was clogged up ...

Once these earwax are found, they cannot be removed by slipping with an earpick, the holes in the ears are blocked and no equipment can be inserted into the gaps, and it takes too long to remove them. It was a difficult task.

Male contributor

"Only in the cases I dealt with, I think that there were many people who could not take care of themselves or complain of ear changes due to the progression of dementia. As long as there isn't, the staff or family will have to check it and take care of it each time ... I think I have to do some earpicking. "

Earwax, its unknown identity is ...

Earwax that bothers people.

As we were interviewing, we ran into a question.

… What is it that you want to hear in the first place?

Then I found a video posted on YouTube with the title "Do you really need to clean your ears?"

Looking at the video, it seems that the earwax was actually the eardrum.

As the eardrum regenerates, it transforms into skin that travels outwards and eventually peels off.

This is a video of an experiment in which the eardrum is colored to see what happened over time.

After 4 weeks, you can see that the part that was the eardrum has moved outward.

This is what we call "earwax".

So is it okay to do it after all?

Is it useless?

Now, let's return to the first question, "Do you have to pick your ears?"

I decided to confirm the opinion of the Japanese Society of Otolaryngology.

I found a straight ball question in the Q & A section of the homepage.

Q Should I not clean my ears?

A "Recognize that ear cleaning is a medically unnecessary and dangerous act."

Medically unnecessary !?

What exactly does that mean

?

On behalf of the society, Dr. Yurika Kimura, the director of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ebara Hospital, answered.

Hit the doctor directly!

Q Why is ear cleaning unnecessary?

A Earwax is a secretion such as sebum that is produced in the back of the ear, and the surface of the eardrum is old and peeled off. There is no need to force it at home.

Indeed, as I explained in the previous video, it seems that the earwax usually goes out naturally without having to bother to brush the ears.

However, I have a question here.

Q If I don't clean my ears for a while, my ears become itchy and I want to clean them.

A This gives you a temporary feeling of exhilaration, which makes you want to do it many times, but cleaning it breaks the skin barrier and creates a vicious cycle of itching.

The skin in the ears is very thin and itchy when infected with allergies, bacteria and mold.

I also asked about the troubles and questions about ear cleaning that were posted on Twitter.

Q What do you mean when your earwax clogs the hole?

A When cleaning your ears, you may push the earwax to the back and get stuck in a state like earplugs.

With ear canal mycosis, a mass of mold can block the inside of the ear.

If you have difficulty hearing, please see an otolaryngologist.

Q Is there a difference between dry and damp earwax?

A There is a theory that moist type earwax is more likely to cause earwax embolism.

If you are a damp type, it is sometimes a good idea to have your otolaryngologist take care of it.

Q Is there a difference depending on age and gender?

A The amount may increase in children with narrow ear holes and active sebum secretion, and in elderly people who have a poor ability to drain earwax.

Especially for children, if you try to force the earwax out, you may violently damage the ear canal or damage the eardrum or the part deeper than the eardrum.

Always consult an otolaryngologist to clean your earwax.

To know your ears

That being said, is it okay to go to an otolaryngologist just to clean my ears? I hesitate a little.

I actually talked to a doctor.

The person who taught me was Toshihiko Oba, director of Keiyu Ginza Clinic, who is a certified specialist of the Japan Otolaryngology Society and is familiar with ear cleaning problems.

According to Dr. Oba, there are many patients who have had otitis externa due to over-scratching their ears by cleaning their ears, and people who complain that their ears have become clogged and their ears have become deaf due to cleaning their ears.

Mr. Oba, can I see an otolaryngologist just to clean my ears?

Director Oba

"Of course it's okay. It's surprisingly difficult to brush your ears, and some people tend to have earwax depending on the shape of the curve of the ear canal and the type of earwax. First of all, it is important to know your ears at the otolaryngologist."

Ear cleaning "master" What is the secret?

However, there are many people who go to the hospital every time.

We asked Mitsuru Takahashi, the representative of the Japan Year Esthetic Association, who has been involved in earpicks and esthetics for about 50 years.

Mr. Takahashi says that he uses 10 handmade earpicks made of soft bamboo of different thickness depending on the shape of the hole.

The inside of the ear becomes softer as it goes deeper, and if you try to forcibly remove the sticky earwax, you may hurt your skin.

Therefore, the place near the outside is a big earpick, and the inside is carefully and gently scooped up within the visible range.

He told me that it is very comfortable to massage the outside of the ear with a finger when brushing the ear, and it is also effective for stiff shoulders and neck pain.

Mr. Takahashi

"There are many acupuncture points in the ears, and it is said that one of them is close to 200. While stimulating the ears may make the whole body feel comfortable, just putting something in the back a few millimeters will cause pain. It's also a dangerous place to accompany. When I scratch my ears, I'm careful and careful enough to hold my breath. "

Hold your breath ...!

Even the "master" of earpicks is doing so carefully.

We are not "masters" How about cleaning your ears at home?

So what if you want to clean your ears at home?

First of all, the tools are of concern.

Bamboo and metal earpicks, cotton swabs, tweezers ... I think they all have their own favorites.

Among them, the handy cotton swabs are rich in variations such as thickness and shape as well as colors such as white and black.

If you take a closer look at the package ...

"Don't put it all the way into your ears or nose as it may damage your eardrums and mucous membranes."

To be honest, I hadn't seen it in detail before, but it said that I shouldn't put it all the way in.

The "Japan Sanitary Materials Industry Association", which is made by a company that manufactures and sells cotton swabs, has a voluntary rule to put such words on the product packaging.

And how do you actually clean your ears?

I asked the director of the clinic, Toshihiko Oba, again.

Insert the tip of the cotton swab about 1 cm from the entrance of the ear hole.

To avoid rubbing the skin too much, gently trace the area around the entrance about 3 times.

It means that once a month is enough.

He told me that I should be careful about these points as well.

Oil not impregnated in use, such as

　→ ear wax is a risk that it becomes difficult to be discharged

　　 seek a physician's discretion If you want to use

to use a new one for each ear is when using the-cotton swab

around so as not to collide with-people Caution

　→ There is a risk of damaging the back of the ear such as the eardrum.

Ears that will last a lifetime.

I want to cherish it for a long time.