Over the years, we have seen many patients try to remove their own earwax at home. Some use tweezers, while others buy well-advertised but dangerous wax spirals on Amazon for a few pounds. However, the method we see most often is ear candles. You may have seen adverts and reviews claiming that ear candles remove earwax safely and successfully. Here at earwaxspecialist.co.uk, however, we have found many inherent risks associated with them.
We are an independent audiology practice that specialises in safe and effective earwax removal using microsuction. In our professional view, ear candles are not a safe way to remove earwax. In fact, they are ineffective and, more importantly, quite dangerous. Below, we explain why.
What Are Ear Candles?
Ear candling is a traditional method. It involves placing a hollow, cone-shaped paper tube into your ear canal. The practitioner then lights the end furthest from the ear. The general belief is that the heat melts the wax and creates a vacuum, or negative pressure. In theory, this then draws earwax out of the ear canal and into the candle.
Do Ear Candles Work?
No medical body regulates ear candles for this purpose. Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence that they help with the symptoms of a blocked ear. In fact, several published studies have tested the procedure under scientific conditions. They found that burning ear candles created no measurable vacuum or suction. In most cases, symptoms actually got worse. This is because melted wax from the candle settled in the ear canal and caused blockages.
The Dangers of Ear Candles
1. Wax Blockages
Instead of removing earwax, the heat from candles often melts it further into the ear canal. As a result, larger blockages can form deeper in the canal. Furthermore, wax residue from the candle often causes further complications. This foreign material settles in the ear and is often very difficult to remove. Patients then often need further treatment from an ENT specialist.
Do you have a wax blockage in the West Midlands? If so, our earwax removal in Coventry service is a safe, professional alternative to risky home methods.
2. Burn Hazards
Lighting an ear candle near the face has often led to burns. These burns can affect the skin of the ear, the ear canal or, worse, the eardrum. Our clinics, therefore, regard this as an inherent risk.
3. Perforations
Inserting an ear candle into the ear canal can also lead to perforations or tears of the eardrum. This can happen when the user does not understand the canal’s depth or how close the eardrum is. For example, one patient came into our clinic in excruciating pain after an ear candling procedure. When we examined the ear canal, we found a significant perforation. We also found damage to the delicate tissues inside the canal.
4. Ear Infections
Putting a non-sterilised product inside the ear canal can also introduce bacteria. As a result, it can lead to serious infections of the ear canal. We have treated patients from across the region who developed complications after trying home remedies such as ear candles.
What Health Authorities Say About Ear Candles
ENT UK is a respected organisation that advises the ear, nose and throat community, including consultants. It has advised against using ear candles to remove earwax.
Similarly, the NHS website strongly advises against ear candling. It cites a lack of evidence that it works and also questions its safety.
In the USA, the FDA is responsible for approving medical treatments. It has issued warnings about possible injuries from ear candles. In fact, it has gone as far as banning the advertising of ear candling as a treatment for earwax blockages.
Overall, these official and voluntary bodies all reach the same conclusion. Ear candles can cause more problems than they actually solve.
A Safe Alternative: Microsuction
The safest and most effective way to clear earwax blockages is a clinical procedure called microsuction. We even offer same-day earwax removal appointments, so patients can find immediate relief.
Microsuction uses a small suction cannula and video endoscopy to remove earwax from the ear canal safely and painlessly. Your audiologist uses very gentle negative vacuum pressure, along with ceruminolytic drops, to extract the wax. As a result, it removes the wax without causing the patient any discomfort.
What Are the Benefits of Microsuction?
- Safe and effective, with the procedure lasting no more than 5–10 minutes.
- Significantly lower chance of infection, unlike other methods such as water irrigation.
- Immediate relief of symptoms after the procedure.
It is also safe for patients with a history of perforations or operations on the ear canal or middle ear.
Who Should You Go To for Earwax Removal?
The best place for earwax removal is a professional audiology clinic with years of experience in the procedure. To check a clinic, look for social proof, such as Google reviews, Trustpilot reviews and patient video testimonials.
At earwaxspecialist.co.uk, we have years of experience in microsuction. In addition, over 1,000 five-star Google reviews show how we can help you.
Our services are professional, affordable and friendly. Qualified audiologists with years of experience and thousands of procedures under their belt carry out every treatment.
We also offer expert-led microsuction earwax removal training courses for healthcare professionals seeking CPD-approved certification.
Conclusion: Why You Should Avoid Ear Candles
Many sellers advertise ear candles as a holistic, therapeutic way to deal with earwax. However, medical literature and our own clinic experience point the same way. There is no scientific evidence that ear candling works for earwax blockages. Therefore, it is a practice worth avoiding.