There is nothing worse than a blocked ear to upset your well-earned holiday time!
Remember these 3 things and you will be well on your way to enjoying happy ears over your summer break:
1. Don’t Be Tempted by the Cotton Buds!
I have heard time and time again stories of clients using a cotton bud to dry their ears after swimming or showering but in doing so, accidentally push the wax further down the canal, exacerbating the problem.
Wax pushed up against the drum will cause you to feel instantly deaf. While not painful it is very uncomfortable, hard to ignore and will interfere with your relaxation time.
2. Following Swimming, Dry Your Ears With a Hairdryer on Low Heat
Using this method helps your ears dry after a few minutes and you avoid potentially pushing wax down the canal with a cotton bud or other implements.
This can be particularly helpful if you have narrow or bendy ear canals. Pull the ear back to straighten the ear canal, and apply low heat for 2-3 minutes.
Please take care when using this approach, ensuring that the heat is low to avoid accidentally burning yourself or others.
3. Ear Clean Via Gentle Microsuction
If you are prone to wax build up, consider an ear clean via gentle micro suction prior to a trip away or swimming. You can actually have quite a lot of wax in your ears without experiencing any symptoms, so prevention is the best approach.
The last thing you want is for water to become trapped in the ear after swimming due to wax build up. This can cause the wax to expand and totally block your ear – worst still it could lead to infection if you are somewhere humid and the water is not clean. 30 minutes is all you need for a quick and painless wax removal to prevent this issue.
Please note, if your blocked ear is due to a cold, hay fever or sinus, seek the advice of your local GP or your pharmacist for symptom relief. This may take some time to resolve after the acute episode is over.
Employ these helpful tips to ensure your holiday is as enjoyable as it can be this summer.
Make a visit to Earworx prior to your break and let us gently and safely remove built up ear wax and provide advice around taking good care of your precious ears!
Call Us on 1800 327 967 or Book an Appointment Online.