External Ear and External Auditory Canal: The external ear consists of the auricle and the external auditory canal. The external ear
canal is the name given to the tunnel-shaped part between the pinna and the eardrum.
The ear canal resembles an hourglass and narrows in the middle part. In the skin on the outer part of this pathway, there are special glands that create ear discharge. It is assumed that the secretion prevents dust and sand particles from reaching the membrane. Usually, the secretion dries and is thrown out of the ear along with the dust and sand it contains, or it slides towards the auricle where it is wiped away. The dried accumulation here
is called "buchon (earwax)".
Earwax does not actually mean that the ear is dirty, it is named like that among the public. In people with thick ear
secretion or in people working in dusty environments, this discharge may accumulate and block the external ear canal.
Should We Clean Our Ears?
Ear secretion may accumulate in the inner ear canal. It does not form in the inner part, it only forms in the outer part. If a person tries to clean his ear with objects such as earwax, twisted tissue, etc., it pushes the wax towards the eardrum. The ear cannot be cleaned with such
objects, only the ear debris is pushed inward. At the same time, the skin and eardrum of the external auditory canal are very thin and sensitive and can be easily damaged or even pierced. Cotton wrapped
swabs are for cleaning the navel, not the ear!
Ear discharge is beneficial as it protects the ear canal and creates a temporary protective layer of water.
The absence of ear discharge helps dry and itchy ears.
Most of the time, the ear canal cleans itself. This occurs by gradually sweeping the skin and debris outwards from the eardrum to the auricle. Old ear debris is constantly swept out of the ear, meanwhile it dries and falls out.
Under ideal conditions, you do not need to clean your ear. However, we know that this is not always the case.
There is a lot of ear debris and it can block the external auditory canal and even prevent hearing. In this
case, the physician washes the ear under a microscope with an aspirator, special tools (claque curettes of different sizes)
or white cleans. In some cases, he uses medications to soften the debris. If you know that you have such a situation
, you can use softening drops such as 'glycerin' without going to a doctor.
You should know if there is a hole in your eardrum. If your eardrum is perforated, the drops you use may cause ear
infection. Likewise, washing an ear with a perforated eardrum also causes inflammation. If you are not sure about the health of your eardrum, you should definitely consult your physician.
Does having your ear washed become a habit?
This is a completely wrong belief. Flushing the ear canal does not become a habit. People with thick ear discharge
feel the need to clean their ears once every six months or a year, as the character of this discharge will not change. This is due to the nature of ear discharge, not the result of washing.
Ear discharge will accumulate whether it is washed or not. This belief; It's like saying, 'I shouldn't wash my hands, otherwise they'll get dirty again.'
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