What is earwax - and should you get rid of it? - Henry C. Ou

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  • čas přidán 1. 04. 2024
  • Explore why earwax forms, its purpose in our health, and whether or not we should be trying to get rid of it.
    --
    Grooming paraphernalia has been found in numerous archeological sites, many of which have included earwax removal tools. And earwax evacuation remains a popular hygienic habit today. But what is earwax? And are the efforts to eliminate it actually good for us? Henry C. Ou explores the important role earwax plays in our health.
    Lesson by Henry C. Ou, directed by Yuriy Polyashko, Max Zaglotskyi, Darvideo Animation Studio.
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Komentáře • 592

  • @PramkLuna
    @PramkLuna Před měsícem +1952

    "No human earwax, wet or dry, would make a good candle"
    TED ED answering the real questions

    • @dirtdoes6272
      @dirtdoes6272 Před měsícem +10

      Fr

    • @gardnerhill9073
      @gardnerhill9073 Před měsícem +14

      Confirming Mythbusters' findings.

    • @DanielLCarrier
      @DanielLCarrier Před měsícem +12

      But why? They can't just say that and not give an explanation.

    • @NinjaFlibble
      @NinjaFlibble Před měsícem +15

      Next question: is ogre earwax made of the same stuff? 🤔

    • @RosheenQuynh
      @RosheenQuynh Před měsícem +6

      @@NinjaFlibble Finally, someone mentioned this!

  • @kryptonsa36
    @kryptonsa36 Před měsícem +512

    My craziest moment as a kid was pulling an insect completely mummified in earwax out of my ear. Never doubted the usefulness of earwax since.

  • @scottastbury7213
    @scottastbury7213 Před měsícem +605

    Me eating peanut butter while watching this was a mistake.

  • @AmmoBloke
    @AmmoBloke Před měsícem +492

    TedEx should consider adding audio to their videos.

  • @rafaelgabriel101
    @rafaelgabriel101 Před měsícem +557

    I just heard my earwaxes speak: "Don't you dare get rid of me."

  • @lillywho
    @lillywho Před měsícem +404

    4:35 There are even candles for that purpose that are actually designed to look like ear wax at the core, so that the debris it leaves behind makes you think you got the gunk out!!

    • @xirfan
      @xirfan Před měsícem +4

      You could sniff it to determine if it's ear wax or not, it has a unique odour.

    • @ImHeadshotSniper
      @ImHeadshotSniper Před měsícem +27

      sooo many gimmicky fraudulent products and services out there..

    • @lillywho
      @lillywho Před měsícem +21

      @@ImHeadshotSniper Welcome to late stage capitalism!

    • @ImHeadshotSniper
      @ImHeadshotSniper Před měsícem

      @@lillywho true, but to be fair, i partially blame unscientific traditions for enabling a society of believers of these traditions to be exploited by things they don't understand. this exploitation has been happening before capitalist societies existed.
      speaking of which, i feel like a large majority of ancient cultural traditions such as medicines which turned out to be provably useless or mildly toxic, were probably embedded with old narcissists obsessed with being called "wise", dictating how the world works.
      i know it's a huge afterthought to look down on people of that time when information was hard to come by, but when you learn about something as simple and fundamental as the scientific method, or some ancient form of it, we really could have been flying through determining whether or not things were true thousand of years before we finally did, but we didn't, i feel largely because of completely baseless traditions zombifying peoples beliefs.

    • @pvanukoff
      @pvanukoff Před měsícem

      @@lillywho Just capitalism really. Snake oil type products have always been sold, going back centuries.

  • @panzer_TZ
    @panzer_TZ Před měsícem +130

    Recently learned this hard way. Bad allergies irritated my inner ear and it was difficult to hear. I thought the issue was too much earwax, so I used an ear wax remover. Took a shower, water got in and both ears got horrible infections. Absolute agony for 2 weeks. After such an agonizing experience, I'll never purposefully try to remove earwax for as long as I live.

    • @hari_sluvmaze7
      @hari_sluvmaze7 Před měsícem +1

      Did your hearing difficulty go away on its own after a few days

    • @Kaiverze
      @Kaiverze Před měsícem +5

      I feel you. In my case (though not sure if it's also due to shower water getting in) I occasionally get vertigo from over cleaning my ears and removing earwax. I try to be more careful when doing so but it still happens, like just this morning.

    • @gameking3278
      @gameking3278 Před měsícem +2

      I was born with abnormally, narrow canals and when I was in my teens, I ended up getting an infection in one of them. I have tried so many different methods for getting earwax and there’s only one that actually works. I bought an earwax removal tool that can connect to my phone which allows me to see inside my ear while I am scooping earwax out. The tool has a camera and its own Wi-Fi, which means that I can actually see where the tool goes by looking at my phone. Also, Debrox makes a huge difference. If you have a severe amount of earwax in your ear canals, you can soften it by dropping a couple drops of it for a few minutes.

    • @evancombs5159
      @evancombs5159 Před 29 dny +1

      I had a similar experience. It would happen regularly, but I found using an ear scoop to clear out just a small amount near the edge was enough to make it easier for the earwax to push out preventing it from happening again.

    • @Piquliar
      @Piquliar Před 25 dny +1

      @@Kaiverze Hmm, maybe that's why I've been getting vertigo more often these days. I'll try not clearing the wax out to see if I feel better.

  • @mickmash13
    @mickmash13 Před měsícem +26

    My friend is a med student studying to be an ENT (ear nose throat). The amount of ranting I've heard about q-tips and ear candling is amazing.

    • @jackjack4412
      @jackjack4412 Před 23 dny +2

      My dad works in the medical field and used to rant about Q Tips lol

  • @kidbonesonline
    @kidbonesonline Před měsícem +224

    Was just cleaning my ears out when this popped up in my notifications. How convenient.

  • @ConradCaribou
    @ConradCaribou Před měsícem +395

    5:22 Ah-ha! This settles the Over Ear Headphones Vs. Ear Buds debate! It totally knew I was on the right side with the former.

    • @Gabbro_1
      @Gabbro_1 Před měsícem +23

      who debates that

    • @its_dey_mate
      @its_dey_mate Před měsícem +41

      @@Gabbro_1 High quality IEMs vs Headphones are actually a rather debated topic among audiophiles.

    • @chrisrubin6445
      @chrisrubin6445 Před měsícem +4

      wtf? thats so obvious! did you really need a 5 minute video to tell you what your brain already knew?

    • @mar35962
      @mar35962 Před měsícem +38

      ​@@its_dey_matetf is an audiophile? a person attracted to audios?

    • @its_dey_mate
      @its_dey_mate Před měsícem +31

      @@mar35962 I initially thought so, apparently it's just guys who are *very* nerdy about audio.

  • @cavi5514
    @cavi5514 Před měsícem +25

    As someone who has managed to clean out the wax thoroughly enough my doctor has commented on it, it’s not worth succeeding. Because once it’s that clean you can feel it forming again/migrating. The only way to stop that feeling (besides continuing the cycle) is to let it build up again to healthy levels. Also leaves your ears vulnerable and more likely to ache from activities that expose your ears to weather/temperature changes.

  • @willkurteff-schatz4669
    @willkurteff-schatz4669 Před měsícem +66

    Keep going strong ted!

  • @npccoco
    @npccoco Před měsícem +216

    I got the notification as I was picking my ear

    • @bob1234881
      @bob1234881 Před měsícem +17

      They are watching you. 😂

  • @SciMinute
    @SciMinute Před měsícem +25

    Thank you, TED-ED, for consistently producing such wonderful videos!

  • @budisitoputra9011
    @budisitoputra9011 Před měsícem +17

    Thank you TED-ED for creating wonderful videos!❤🎉🤗

  • @hominidan
    @hominidan Před měsícem +21

    This is definitely the most beautiful video on earwax I've seen today.
    Also incredibly cool of Mr. Narrator to read my thought on candles

  • @RosheenQuynh
    @RosheenQuynh Před měsícem +29

    I'm SO glad earwax buildup was mentioned, I was getting worried for a minute there! Mine got so bad that I was partially deaf (well, my hearing was muffled) for three days! I had to go to the ER to get it all out. Gonna have to invest in those gentle methods cuz the buildup is constant.

  • @gailaltschwager7377
    @gailaltschwager7377 Před měsícem +10

    Thank you!

  • @darklight5316
    @darklight5316 Před měsícem +6

    Just the thing i was wondering.
    Bravooo

  • @sarl4in
    @sarl4in Před měsícem +37

    Realizing this was probably not the best video to watch on my lunch break. Interesting nonetheless.

  • @litera_cj
    @litera_cj Před měsícem +27

    "Health care providers have tried and true methods of gently clearing blockages." Based on personal experience, this tends to consist of blasting water directly into the ear until whatever is blocking the ear washes out. It's the method I use now at home. I'll never forget when I was at the doctor's office, getting my ear cleaned, and felt a sudden rush of relief when a particularly large wax clot got dislodged and the nurse said, "Wow, that's a big one! What would you like to name it?"

    • @supernukey419
      @supernukey419 Před měsícem +4

      That bedside manner is legendary

    • @lastnamehurt
      @lastnamehurt Před 17 dny

      I’ve been through this before too. The nurse just kept blasting water into my ear as I layed there in pain 😂

    • @vadimmakarov6811
      @vadimmakarov6811 Před 15 dny

      I had this treatment many times until mid-adulthood. Once I neglected removing the plug for too long and ended up with a minor surgery. Another time a doctor punctured my ear drum while removing the plug (very painful). I then started carefully removing earvax using a paperclip (squeezed into a narrower bend about 2 mm wide) about monthly, and never visited the ear doctor since. No plugs, period. I've been fine with this practice for about twenty years.
      Only recently I discovered that many ancient cultures and some today's ones (e.g., China) have an earvax removal "spoon" as a standard household item. It's all too bad I could not buy one, was never advised by the doctors of it, and had to re-invent this tool myself AGAINST THE WESTERN MEDICAL ADVICE.
      The most useless medical advice I received was from a doctor in Singapore who offered to surgically widen my ear canal. The paper clip solved that problem.

  • @freesk8
    @freesk8 Před měsícem +15

    At the end, that was an especially good animation of a guitar player! I play guitar, and so often, animators get something wrong. My bet is that this animator is a guitar player! :)

  • @FueledbyJohn
    @FueledbyJohn Před měsícem +8

    This was a fascinating animation to watch.

  • @alexnetrusov6775
    @alexnetrusov6775 Před měsícem +4

    Very educative video! Thank you Ted-Ed!!

  • @antonellaregueira4618
    @antonellaregueira4618 Před měsícem

    This is such a precious channel

  • @user-bp4nv3qp4d
    @user-bp4nv3qp4d Před měsícem +7

    Deep respect TedEd

  • @shade9592
    @shade9592 Před měsícem +55

    I'm one of those people who has issues with earwax buildup. I problem is mostly anatomical, I have very narrow ear canals and that makes it prone to buildup. Physiology can also play a part; if you have oily skin, that can also be a contributing factor. IDK if having dry ear wax makes you less prone to buildup, but I'd imagine it does.
    I do clean my ear canals myself *AGAINST THE ADVICE* of every ENT I've been to, but in my defense, it does reduce my ENT visits. I only do it once a week unless the buildup is severe. I soak with hydrogen peroxide (baby oil also works) for 3 minutes and I do use swabs, but only the small ones, and be very gentle, and only on the outer half of the ear canal; that's were the buildup happens.

    • @Furfire
      @Furfire Před měsícem +16

      I imagine they give that blanket advice with the lowest common denominator in mind... or because ear canals are different so they preach caution instead.
      That or Big Ear just wants to ensure they are needed.

    • @Matticusjk
      @Matticusjk Před měsícem +8

      Im not alone!! I used to see an ENT every 2 years to get my canals cleared. Havent been in 7 years since I started occasionally putting H2O2, but i dont use swabs. The wax falls out on its own a couple times a year. My left ear just cleared itself out the other day!

    • @atomictraveller
      @atomictraveller Před měsícem +4

      it's worth noting that H2O2 is 2% over the counter in the u.s.a. but around 20% in australia for instance. it takes consecutive days of 90 minute treatments until my ears open up (this is preceded by a sloow period of 45 minutes of regular periodic single bubble like a clock breaking through, done this for decades). every morning i pull my ears by sticking my fingers in it and pumping them for about 20 minutes a piece until the milk stops coming out. they will be milkable again in an hour or so. the finger pump has done much more than H2O2 ever had for opening up infected sinuses. what happens when they don't get milked isn't going to go over well. and screw ENTs bunch of hos. i've put everything but pee (often recommended) in my ears over the years. garlic and coconut oil is the best way to remove infection (i don't know about fancy antibiotics, antibiotics mess with my hearing when they're not intended to). my problem comes from the u.s. government. i went to school with gabrielle giffords. i know who the second man is. he goes to a lodge where the men wear aprons.

    • @abigailchristenson388
      @abigailchristenson388 Před měsícem +2

      I have a friend who has the same issue! When he was a baby he said they had to put tubes in his ears

    • @TooSlowTube
      @TooSlowTube Před měsícem +2

      I clean mine out fairly often with a small metal loop tool, with a plastic handle. It makes it less likely that I push wax further into my ear, as with cotton buds, and the width of the loop stops it going in too far.
      If I don't clean them my hearing suffers and I get pain in my ears which affects my balance. This video is too "one size fits all", for my liking.

  • @Naistov
    @Naistov Před měsícem +3

    So interesting watching this as I just recently removed some bad earwax build up....basically impactions. Thank God for Debrox and tools actually made to extract the stuff😮‍💨

  • @thepreacherxi5353
    @thepreacherxi5353 Před měsícem +9

    Thank ypu, Ted Ed. My ears badly need this lecture.

  • @iamprinceba
    @iamprinceba Před měsícem +1

    This is one of the most complicated things I have been thinking and googling about. I like this video but there are more complicated ways of how you can effectively clean ear wax. Which was something I was expecting, instead this video talks about how it comes about, looking forward to how we can effectively clean these without damaging the ear drum.

  • @Regalert
    @Regalert Před měsícem +2

    Thanks!

  • @FelipeKana1
    @FelipeKana1 Před měsícem +1

    Yeah, I needed to hear that

  • @durontoshadatmahbub1936
    @durontoshadatmahbub1936 Před měsícem

    I really love your explanations of music. I learnt a lot from your videos. I wish you all the happiness you deserve. Take love.
    - Duronto. From Bangladesh.

  • @nishchalthakur2487
    @nishchalthakur2487 Před měsícem +404

    5:23
    Giving your ears a break from earplugs and earphones
    *Me using earphones while watching this video*
    👁️👄👁️

    • @bongobongo3661
      @bongobongo3661 Před měsícem +7

      Lmfao same

    • @carltonleboss
      @carltonleboss Před měsícem +16

      Use headphones instead :P

    • @Becky_Cooling
      @Becky_Cooling Před měsícem

      Me too!
      I need to charge my (over ear) headphones...

    • @natcat655
      @natcat655 Před měsícem +4

      Same! Anyway, earplugs and headphones are actually better for ears than NOISE... I guess 😅

    • @rian0xFFF
      @rian0xFFF Před měsícem +3

      i never enjoy using earphones

  • @ButchersBanter
    @ButchersBanter Před měsícem +1

    I'm currently having a problem with earwax blockage so this was very handy, thank you :))

  • @kaitlandm.4969
    @kaitlandm.4969 Před měsícem +4

    I had no idea your heritage affects what kind of earwax you have😮, you really learn something new everyday 😊

  • @InMaTeofDeath
    @InMaTeofDeath Před měsícem +8

    It didn't bother me until it built up so much in my ear that it blocked about half the sound that got through. It was a quick fix though just have to let the doctor clean it out they squirt water in your ear to loosen it and it makes you feel like your brains are getting scrambled.

  • @AnneMarcyandsashaVlog-md9ev
    @AnneMarcyandsashaVlog-md9ev Před měsícem +3

    Yay! Ted Ed, you guys make the best and most interesting videos ever! Slay! ❤😉😻

  • @Pou1gie1
    @Pou1gie1 Před měsícem +1

    An ENT one said tome that every time I shower I should allow the water to glick into each ear canal a few times and then glick out. I've been doing this for years, and have been told by other ENTs that my ears are the cleanest they've seen in a while. Best and simplest hygiene habit I have.

  • @antalito3047
    @antalito3047 Před měsícem +11

    I tend to have a lot of earwax so I was religiously tried to clean it but as the video suggested I just got a build up and many times couldn’t hear much. Then I stopped cleaning it all together and now it’s much better and I have no problems. Q tips are really not good to clean your ears

    • @pvanukoff
      @pvanukoff Před měsícem +2

      I've used cotton swabs to clean my ear canals for over 30 years and never once had a build-up problem, and whenever I see my doctor, he often comments on how clean my ear canals are. It really specific to each person whether it's a good idea or not. I probably have wider-than-normal ear canals.

    • @kamille286
      @kamille286 Před měsícem +1

      @@pvanukoff Beyond pushing some earwax further back, the reason I've heard q-tips aren't good for cleaning ears is small bits of cotton can get stuck in your ears and cause infections. Just something to be aware of, there are other tools that won't cause that problem

  • @LouisLixes
    @LouisLixes Před měsícem +2

    Amazing!!

  • @patrickharrison4763
    @patrickharrison4763 Před měsícem +2

    Animators had fun with this one, well done.

  • @nienke7713
    @nienke7713 Před měsícem +3

    I've had both dry and wet earwax at different times, didn't know this was supposed genetically tied to ethnicity. I am mixed race East-Asian and European, so idk if that might have something to do with it.
    My face can also simetimes be quite dry and other times be quite oily, which might be related if it one of the components of earwax is the same kind of oils.

  • @Demetrius900000
    @Demetrius900000 Před měsícem +39

    Who cleans ears by sticking it all the way inside?!
    You do it after shower, when there is water in your ears, and you slowly move the stick inside, spinning it. That way the watery wax is left on the stick and nothing gets pushed inside.

    • @ijustwantedausername
      @ijustwantedausername Před měsícem +6

      That is exactly what I do too.

    • @Demetrius900000
      @Demetrius900000 Před měsícem

      @@dominicbailey7558 Been doing it for nearly all my life, no problems with ears whatsoever.

    • @ieatalgae
      @ieatalgae Před měsícem +3

      Yeah, exactly lol

  • @orestfilm
    @orestfilm Před měsícem

    Wow! Really nice animation

  • @Zethonring23
    @Zethonring23 Před měsícem +6

    Wish I'd known about the earbud thing sooner. A few years ago I upped my earbud usage like 200%, not knowing there would be any side effects. After like a year and a half I woke up one morning and was basically deaf in one ear. Blockage. My doctor referred me to an audiologist, but because this was in the middle of the pandemic I couldn't get an appointment for half a year. The whole thing was driving me so crazy I decided to buy a syringe and try to remove the wax manually. Not only did it not work, I gave myself tinnitus 🙃and now I can't really use earbuds anymore. Clean your ears kids!

    • @wolfferoni
      @wolfferoni Před měsícem +1

      Clean your ears, yes, but if you can avoid using earbuds, do that too. Make sure you clean the earbuds well as well. Wiping it with tissue paper or something isn't enough

    • @cookies1702
      @cookies1702 Před měsícem

      ​@@wolfferoni What do you think is enough?
      I want to clean my in-ear headphone but don't know what to use since my headphone ear cushion make out of silicone/rubber

  • @robramsey5120
    @robramsey5120 Před měsícem +6

    The rubber tips on earbuds gave me contact dermatitis in my ears, 2+ years after I stopped using them I still have trouble with my canals which now produce very little wax and are constantly itchy.

    • @alansun70
      @alansun70 Před 9 dny

      I experience itchiness a lot there.

  • @johancakep
    @johancakep Před měsícem +3

    There's a relatively a new tech, an earwax removal stick with a micro camera in its tip, allowing you to carefully remove the wax without pushing it or hurting your canal.

  • @jangzhang7323
    @jangzhang7323 Před měsícem +33

    I thank my asian genes for dry earwax.

  • @MysticChronicles712
    @MysticChronicles712 Před měsícem

    I love your channel!

  • @EugeneYus
    @EugeneYus Před měsícem +1

    Whoever decided to market towards getting rid of it did a phenomenal job
    What if I get both types of waxes? Dry and wet? And no, not after swimming or bathing

  • @francesleones4973
    @francesleones4973 Před měsícem +2

    I've been trying to refrain from cleaning my ears with cotton swabs. As someone with a perforated eardrum, I'm prone to getting infections which is always a bummer.

  • @mmdohastam
    @mmdohastam Před měsícem +1

    amazing

  • @lowenzahn3976
    @lowenzahn3976 Před měsícem +1

    Please make a video about nasal boogers next, and what to do with them best.

  • @coreysierchio4650
    @coreysierchio4650 Před měsícem +1

    Ted-ED video starring Seth Probably better known as Saffron Olive!
    *Thanks for the Content!*

  • @natheriver8910
    @natheriver8910 Před měsícem +2

    Vídeo muito esclarecedor! Obrigado 👏👏👏👏👏

  • @icantgetridofthisusernamehelp
    @icantgetridofthisusernamehelp Před měsícem +2

    I'm a musician and I have frequent wax buildup (and prone to ear infections. Legit I get about four a year). I've noticed that when My ears are getting clogged/there's the beginning of an infection, music sounds sharp, so I end up playing my instrument out of tune. That's usually how I can tell.

  • @KPC-123
    @KPC-123 Před měsícem

    Just what I wanted was another lecture about how bad qtips are for the ears…. Thanks again!

  • @AchyutChaudhary
    @AchyutChaudhary Před měsícem +4

    2:27 *that's a good one Ted!* 😂

  • @bluegodfairy37
    @bluegodfairy37 Před měsícem +1

    Early this year, I faced a hazard because of my carelessness while cleaning my hear. Had to do a minor operation in my ear.

  • @difficult1003
    @difficult1003 Před měsícem +3

    As a person with hyperacusis, I can say that earwax serves as a protector of the ear nerve from loud sounds in the first place.

    • @litabouttathep4413
      @litabouttathep4413 Před měsícem

      👋 Hi, I think so. How long have you been in hyperacusis? How do you live with it? I think I also have hyperacusis, but there is no audiologist in my region. All I can do so far is online research from professionals.

    • @difficult1003
      @difficult1003 Před měsícem +2

      @litabouttathep4413 I had acoustic damage to my ear and tinnitus appeared with hyperacusis. Now, even after 5 years, I still experience discomfort from loud noises or vibration of the eardrum from certain sounds, such as foil. The first year was severe that I couldn't go outside without earplugs. But over time, my condition became more tolerable. I had to relearn how to enjoy sounds and music. My favorite music from the 80s helps me a lot😅

  • @photon434
    @photon434 Před měsícem +1

    My earwax builds up very quickly. Sometimes it is hard and other times its soft. It can get as big as a marble, but just a light blockage coating my ears affects my hearing. The wax causes my ears to get very itchy due to bacteria. Q-tips were a bad trip. The wax is very problematic for my hearing aids. Going to the doctor was a big relief, but it was only once a year. Finally, advice from both my doctor and my audiologist helped me deal with it myself. Now once or twice a month I use ear drops to loosen up the wax and the next day I use an elephant ear to flush my ears out with a 50% solution of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water. This is certainly something to be careful with because hydrogen peroxide changes the PH levels of your ears. And from experience I can tell you that overdoing hydrogen peroxide it is a bad trip--I used to soak my ears in it. Now I just use it at half strength just to flush them out. So now for the first time I have found a method that works for me. This is not for everyone and if you do resort to it, I recommend consulting a doctor first.

  • @emom358
    @emom358 Před měsícem +1

    But it feels so good!

  • @nivrox95
    @nivrox95 Před dnem

    My dad could hardly hear for almost 2 years and I thought he was going deaf and he didn’t want to go to check it out for a long time.then one day he comes and says he can hear normally!! He finally went to the doctor and his ear was plugged with ear wax!!
    I had it once too and I didn’t notice the hearing loss but I didn’t pass a hearing test in the army.
    Also don’t use those swabs to clean your ear! I once had the cotton part stuck in my ear canal,had to go to the doctor to take it out.

  • @ronmontoya3673
    @ronmontoya3673 Před měsícem +1

    Ang tainga ay mahalagang bahagi ng ating katawan

  • @Tacom4ster
    @Tacom4ster Před měsícem +1

    I was so addicted to scratching my ear canal, barely clean my ears anymore, probably for the best

  • @punelopepunstop5515
    @punelopepunstop5515 Před měsícem +16

    TedEd really waxed eloquently with this video!

    • @josueando
      @josueando Před měsícem

      too slow for me, put it in x1.25 to fully appreciate it.

  • @LeraEluna
    @LeraEluna Před 24 dny

    Informative video, was actually wondering about that 😂

  • @alphatonic1481
    @alphatonic1481 Před měsícem

    I bought a re-useable silicone ear swab which is too short and soft to cause any damage a while ago. It looks like a Lego piece with the number 43093. It's easy to clean with a bit of soapy water.

  • @august6281
    @august6281 Před měsícem +8

    I just clean my ears now.
    It's so satisfying after not doing it for a week.
    Lots of ear wax.

  • @passerby7831
    @passerby7831 Před měsícem +3

    There are times when I feel this strange moving sensation in my ear (scary 😭) and then my earwax just randomly fall out, it’s a funny feeling. Now I know that actually is what is supposed to happened ig

  • @ronakpaul7044
    @ronakpaul7044 Před měsícem

    Finally the Ted-ed video we were waiting for 😂

  • @kawag2780
    @kawag2780 Před měsícem

    As a person with East Asian genes I'm happy that I can experience the feeling of satisfaction after cleaning my ears with my earwax removal tool. Pity I haven't been able to find another identical one that I use on Amazon or at local pharmacies. When I forgot where I placed it, I was in a state of disarray for a couple of weeks.

  • @lottetimes
    @lottetimes Před měsícem

    Debrox ear drops are the best for removal.Just add drops for 2 to 3 days and flush it out with a bulb water. A lot of times it is included in the ear drop package

  • @jjohnnyd
    @jjohnnyd Před 3 dny

    I’m just about to turn 45 and I’ve been using q-tips all my life. This is the best argument I’ve heard against such practice but I’m still not totally convinced to stop using them

  • @ayugitabhagawanti5095
    @ayugitabhagawanti5095 Před 16 dny

    In medschool we don’t know much about that candle thingies, never thought it was dangerous either 🤔

  • @Zlnfgz
    @Zlnfgz Před měsícem

    Do the vacuum ear cleaners sold in shops work?

  • @TROLOLOLOLO007
    @TROLOLOLOLO007 Před měsícem

    I like earigation the best. I got lots of ear wax and it really messes up my hearing so a weekly rinse works great.

  • @christophermartin7098
    @christophermartin7098 Před 10 dny

    I’ve heard of earwax being used by artists being added to tempra paints to discourage the formation of bubbles in the medium.

  • @beautifulstranger101
    @beautifulstranger101 Před měsícem

    Omg that’s crazy. All I did was THINK about using my ear buds to clean out my ears and I was recommended this

  • @AlastorNahIdWinRadioDemon
    @AlastorNahIdWinRadioDemon Před měsícem +5

    Along with over the counter ear medicines they actually have specially made syringes that, after multiple days of using the ear medication, if there is still too much build-up, you make a half water-half hydrogen peroxide solution and spray it into your ear. Important note: Make sure the mix isn't too cold or too hot as to not injure yourself or even cause yourself to faint potentially if it's too high in low of temperature.
    I've been doing this for 7 years now due to having horrible wax buildup my entire life after an initial doctor visit where a doctor told me all of this. I have only had to see a doctor once since, and it was because I had forgotten that time that it was supposed to be a water and peroxide solution once and instead only used water, giving myself an ear infection as such.

    • @marmar90000
      @marmar90000 Před měsícem +2

      You can also just wash your ears with warm water and soap lather every time you shower. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse and dry afterwards, with a soft cotton cloth and natural evaporation.

  • @boniamd4844
    @boniamd4844 Před měsícem

    Do Upil episode please! I love Ngupil..

  • @alastairhewitt380
    @alastairhewitt380 Před měsícem

    I have cauliflower ear from wrestling and ever since I got it, there seems to be an abnormal amount of earwax in that ear. Unfortunately, the cauliflower is in the ear canal and not in the upper portion of my ear. Could this build up be because the new wax forming is having trouble getting pushed out or the ear canal? This has always been a bizarre mystery to me.

  • @rfarevalo
    @rfarevalo Před 7 dny +1

    The tools are to clean the ears of sand, dust, dirt, wood shavings, and stone dust. Not just ear wax. If you live in the desert, wind blown sand gets into every opening. If you dig ditches or carve stone the same happens.

  • @aaronkumpula7367
    @aaronkumpula7367 Před měsícem +2

    Every few years I have enough buildup that it plugs my hearing entirely (narrow canals and oily wax) (its especially bad after swimming) and the scraper things my doctor used always just made the issue way worse since visibility was poor. The only solution that I’ve found actually works is going to an ENT specialist and having it vaccuumed out with a special machine

    • @twgok13
      @twgok13 Před měsícem

      Same buildup, but my specialist used the water syringe. After 3 times i started doing it myself at home. Just be extra careful and it's no longer a problem.

  • @disneythequeen
    @disneythequeen Před měsícem

    so cool! i'll keep fiddling with it, nice try though!!!

  • @GreenPartyofMalaysia
    @GreenPartyofMalaysia Před měsícem +1

    I go to an ENT clinic to do EAR TOILET every 4 to 6 months. Theybalso give me sodium bicarbonate solution ear drops. Ear toilet involves suctioning (vacuuming) the impacted ear wax

  • @bethanyroserubright3484
    @bethanyroserubright3484 Před měsícem +1

    My earwax is often darker and stickier, but sometimes it has a creamier color and consistency similar to pus. If my earwax is creamy like pus, could it mean I have an ear infection?

  • @majorlaff8682
    @majorlaff8682 Před 6 dny

    My doctor told me about fifteen years ago that my ears were wax factories - he even brought some nurses in to see the huge hard lumps and the gooey, runny stuff. It took three or four visits before everything was removed. I started getting them syringed every year. Over the last few years he uses some sort of vacuum machine, hopefully risking less damage to the ear drum. He half-jokingly tells me, ear cleaning has paid for his new Land Rover.

    • @rayRay-pw6gz
      @rayRay-pw6gz Před dnem

      Today people use battery operated hair cutter to get rid of hair in their ears. When doing this , make sure your ear is facing in a downward direction. If not the hair will fall into your ear and mix with ear wax to help create blockage . Also use a thin damp cloth to clean any hair out . Once a month use warm water spray from shower into the ear to help remove wax. Good free advice that has worked well for me over the years.

    • @majorlaff8682
      @majorlaff8682 Před dnem

      @@rayRay-pw6gz I now do the warm water spray almost daily in the shower and it certainly keeps the wax loose and runny. I'll remember to try to avoid hair falling in next time my ears are having a shave. Thanks.

  • @limerence8365
    @limerence8365 Před měsícem

    But its so satisfying when it comes out. I almost went deaf when I got a build up of it and it was so satisfying when the doctor removed it. I've started growing my pinky finger nail long and the doctor even said it was cleaner than normal. Should probably stop.

  • @elisehanslirod
    @elisehanslirod Před 10 dny +1

    I always thought the earwax are sound sediments when sound passes through the ear mesh. And the color of the sound is yellow.

  • @litabouttathep4413
    @litabouttathep4413 Před měsícem +2

    Dear everyone, please take care of your ears. Yes, take a break from loud noise, earphones, headphones, ect. Currently I have a condition called hyperacusis, ears sensitivity to sound (self-diagnosed). I am trying to seek for help, if anyone can suggest me who should I reach out for recovering the condition. I will be very appriciate that, thank you 🙂🙏

    • @Leafybones
      @Leafybones Před měsícem +2

      Don't self diagnose
      If you think you have a condition then seek a doctor to diagnose it
      If you do that an added bonus is that said doctor will also atleast get you a starting point to cure it (or in this case lessen it because Hyperacusis isn't really curable)

    • @litabouttathep4413
      @litabouttathep4413 Před měsícem +1

      @@Leafybones Thank you for your thought, unfortunately, I could not find an audiologist in my region. All I can do so far is online research from professionals and a form of self-recovery.
      The good news, it is curable I found an interview of a person who had experienced hyperacusis; now he is much better. Sure, it requires time and money.

  • @Kaiverze
    @Kaiverze Před měsícem +2

    I've always used q-tips to clean my ears ever since childhood. But starting from a couple of years back (now 30 years old) to this very morning, I woke up with vertigo. The first time it happened, I went to the doctor and he inspected my ear canals asking if I had sustained any sort of injury and pointing out that I had little earwax. Turns out, I had profusely cleaned my ears and was prescribed some sort of artificial earwax drops. Now, any time I wake up with vertigo (very rare as I'm more cautious but still...), it follows a night of showering and using q-tips to clean my ears. So to summarize, be careful when you clean your ears, if you overdo it, you might get vertigo, earwax is indeed very important.

  • @QuandaleDingle001
    @QuandaleDingle001 Před měsícem

    The fact that I hate about earwax is that it builds up over time and at the time you feel like you want to get your ear clean by using one of those equate removal kit can be ignored cuz if you use the ear drop directly to your ear canal it can clogged your ear because the ear drop hit the ear drum and it’s uncomfortable to have clogged ear but the ear wax will eventually be washed out of your ear

  • @abc_cba
    @abc_cba Před měsícem +6

    Removing it is my favourite pastime 😂

  • @MohdAsif-vq6kg
    @MohdAsif-vq6kg Před měsícem +10

    I just had audiometry like 1 hour ago. And this video came in lol

  • @knightshade6232
    @knightshade6232 Před měsícem +21

    👋🍜Im south east asian, my left ear has wet earwax while my right ear has dry earwax... Upon my research i have european bloodline..🇪🇺🔎

    • @EmpressoftheLoneIslands
      @EmpressoftheLoneIslands Před měsícem +4

      The fact that they are different makes me wonder if you are a genetic chimera! That would be really cool.

    • @knightshade6232
      @knightshade6232 Před měsícem

      @@EmpressoftheLoneIslands how i wish that was possible ....hoping😚🙏

  • @Hippienolic2
    @Hippienolic2 Před měsícem

    Watched this while cleaning out my ears with a Q-tip

  • @hansdykstra3869
    @hansdykstra3869 Před měsícem

    To anyone using swabs: I’d recommend stopping, I used to get blockages when I swabbed but when I stopped my ears were able to reset and now wax just falls out with ease and I don’t get blocked

  • @venvilhenrydsilva8354

    What about the one in the pedicure kit?