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A cotton swab is stuck in my ear, what should I do? A cotton swab stuck in your ear

Cotton wool got stuck in the ear - this situation happened, if not to everyone, then to every second person. The degree of danger depends on how deep the material is in the ear canal and how to get cotton wool out of your ear. The ear canal is subject to increased trauma even when in contact with elastic objects, so the extraction procedure must be carried out with extreme caution and precision.

If cotton wool is stuck in the ear, a person may not always understand it, especially if the volume of material is extremely small (a small piece of cotton wool or thin fibers). The symptoms are as follows:

ear congestion;
sensation of the presence of a foreign body in the ear canal;
discomfort;
hearing impairment;
pain.

Specific symptoms depend on the amount of cotton wool that gets into the ear canal and the depth of penetration. For example, if the volume of material is large and it completely blocks the canal, then ear congestion occurs. In this case, a person may not feel the presence of a foreign body, since cotton ball comes into contact with all surfaces at the same time, creating a cork effect.

Discomfort and the sensation of a foreign object are observed with a small amount of cotton wool in the ear, when turning the head, neck or when using masticatory muscles a lump of material moves along the channel. At the same time there is itching.

Pain is typical when a foreign body penetrates deeply, when its particles touch eardrum. Painful sensations depend on the intensity of contact with the membrane. At the same time, the presence of a foreign object and some noise from the friction of the villi on the membrane are felt.

A common cause of cotton wool getting into the ear canal is ear cleaning sticks. Particles of material remain in the ear due to intense hygiene or poor quality material that quickly flakes off.

The most dangerous point is the use of matches and cotton wool. The risk of material getting into the ear is extremely high, since it is not secured in any way. The peeling of wood and the penetration of its particles into the ear canal along with cotton wool can have serious consequences.

What to do if cotton wool is stuck in your ear

If cotton wool is stuck in your ear, and there is no way to see a doctor for help, you should use one of several tips. All recommendations on how to remove cotton wool from the ear at home are purely individual. The effect depends both on the structural features of the hearing organ and on the depth of penetration of the material.

Most effective methods How to get stuck cotton wool out of your ear:

Tweezers - despite the fact that the tool is made of metal, its edges do not have sharp edges and are often rounded at the ends. This reduces the risk of injury to the ear canal, but you still need to act carefully and carefully. If the cotton wool is stuck shallowly, it can be easily removed. You need to grab its edge with tweezers and pull it out. If the cotton wool is a little deeper, but it is still visible, you need to pull the shell of the ear up so that the ear canal is leveled. This makes it easier to penetrate a little deeper with tweezers. If you feel any discomfort or pain, the procedure should be stopped.
Adhesive tape – the best option The use of double-sided tape is considered. It sticks to your finger if the cotton wool is stuck shallowly in the ear, or to a thin oblong object (the same tweezers, a cotton swab). The principle of operation is simple - the fibers of the stuck material are glued to the tape and the lump is easily removed. If double-sided tape is not available, use regular or masking tape.

Important: the number of attempts to independently remove cotton wool from the ear should not exceed 1-2 in order to avoid additional injuries ear canal. If there is no effect, you should seek medical help.

What not to do

using sharp objects - pencils, ballpoint pens, crochet hooks, building materials(nails, screws);
use of liquids (water, oil) - many advice recommends these substances as a successful solution to the problem, but in fact the opposite effect occurs. Water weighs down the stuck cotton, making it more difficult to remove even when in use. medical equipment. The oil also gives extra weight material, but at the same time contributes to the further advancement of the lump, bringing it closer to the eardrum;
using a vacuum cleaner is not a working method in itself, and is also dangerous for the ear;
It is prohibited to use not only sharp objects, such as toothpicks or matches, but also to make notches on them - the method does not bring the desired effect, and the risk of damaging the ear canal or eardrum is extremely high.

Important: if the cotton wool can be obtained using improvised means without putting in additional effort, then the procedure is carried out at home. All other methods described on the Internet are extremely dangerous.

Why is a foreign body inside the ear dangerous?

Ignoring cotton wool stuck in the ear leads to adverse consequences. The main ones are the following:

Hearing impairment - cotton wool occupies part of the ear canal space, so the ear perceives ambient sound not in full. This is where congestion and deafness arise.
Stress – if a person had 100% hearing before, then when sharp deterioration Nervous shock occurs. The person feels inferior and is very worried about this.
Discomfort – the constant sensation of a foreign object in the ear canal causes physical and psychological problems. If we talk about pain, the effect is enhanced.
Microtraumas of the ear canal - despite the fact that the fibers of the cotton wool are soft, they can harm the epithelium of the ear canal.
Increased infection - vulnerability to infection occurs due to decreased secretion production in the ear canal, because part of it is occupied by a foreign body. The risk of proliferation of fungal spores and pathogenic bacteria increases.
Development of otitis - when cotton wool is left in the ear for a long time, the material becomes a source of inflammation.

By the nature of the body, it always tries to independently reject foreign bodies, but if you expect this and do not act, then rejection will occur through pathological process. More often purulent otitis media. That is why you should not postpone your visit to the doctor even for one day.

In what cases should you consult a doctor?

Stuck cotton wool in the ear - serious reason for a visit to the doctor. This is especially true for children, when independent actions are extremely undesirable. Parents are allowed to remove cotton wool from a child’s ear without any available materials. All other options involve a visit to a pediatrician or pediatric ENT specialist.

Why go to the doctor for such a minor problem is a common response from adults who have cotton wool stuck in their ear. However, unsolved problem assumes serious consequences for health. You should consult a doctor in the following cases:

fear of attempting to extract cotton wool on your own;
all attempts made at home were unsuccessful;
increased symptoms (increased discomfort, itching, pain);
in the process of extracting cotton wool at home, new signs appeared (swelling of the auricle, hearing loss, bleeding).

You shouldn’t hope to resolve the problem on your own, so you should go to an ENT specialist right away so as not to aggravate the situation.

How to properly clean your ears

Most common reason, due to which cotton wool gets stuck in the ear canal, this is improper hygiene. When cleaning your ears, you must follow these rules:

Cleaning time – after taking a shower or bath. During this period, the skin is as elastic and steamed as possible, and all excess sulfur is moist. This allows you to clean your ears simply and without consequences;
Frequency – It is not recommended to clean your ears too often. This deprives the epithelium of natural protection against microorganisms and fungi. Also, frequent cleaning leads to the formation of microcracks and injuries, which is the cause of many diseases. The minimum period for ear cleaning is 1 week. Ideally, once every 2 weeks;
depth of penetration – ears should only be cleaned with outer surface concha and ear canal. Penetration even with cotton swabs is strictly prohibited;
cleaning tool – cotton pads. You can use cotton swabs, but you should pay attention to the quality of workmanship. The cotton wool on the stick should be securely fastened, not flake and be soft.

It is prohibited to use any foreign objects (matches, pencils, ballpoint pens) to clean the ears.

Sometimes when cleaning or treating the ears, it happens that cotton wool gets stuck in them. In this situation, since this is a fairly common problem, every person should know that with incorrect and untimely help, the current situation can worsen and lead to unpleasant consequences. In addition, unqualified care can give rise to the development of other diseases.

Manifestations and causes

Typically, cotton remains in the ear because it got stuck there during cleaning. In addition, not even all adults know how to properly carry out these hygiene procedures. Typically, cotton swabs are used for this. Sometimes ordinary matches are used, on which cotton wool is wound. The second method is more dangerous, since the cotton wool from the match can slip off and get stuck in the ear canal.
But not only does cotton wool remain in the ears during cleaning, it also happens during treatment. For example, when tampons soaked in medicine are placed in the ear or when the ear canal is insulated in this way.
If cotton wool from a stick is stuck in the ear, it should be removed from there as quickly as possible. They will indicate that she is stuck there following symptoms:
· Ear congestion;
· Feeling of discomfort in the ear canal;
· Autophony;
· Itching;
· Hearing impairment.

Sometimes they may be added painful sensations, especially if there is damage to the ear tissue. If the eardrum is irritated and the vata is very deep, then noises appear. This also applies to individual villi; they can also cause itching, irritation, and sometimes noise. Later certain time they can come out on their own along with sulfur secretions.

The negative consequence of having a foreign object stuck in the ear canal is that it blocks normal transmission sound signals. In addition, the risk of inflammation increases, since ventilation and cleaning of the ear canal is difficult. As a result, pathogenic microflora begins to multiply, which can lead to the occurrence of otitis media.

When cotton wool penetrates deep enough, the sulfur that forms in the external auditory canal penetrates deep along with the dirt that is stuck there. As a result, a sulfur plug appears.
If you do it incorrectly when removing cotton wool from the ear, the situation may worsen, since this can injure its vulnerable tissues. The presence of any wound is a source of inflammation. In addition, due to inept actions, the eardrum may be damaged. Therefore, experts strongly recommend not to try to solve the problem yourself without knowing necessary knowledge and skills. In order not to harm yourself when removing a foreign object from your ear, it is better to seek help from an ENT specialist.

What to do if cotton wool is stuck in your ear?

To remove cotton wool from the ear, you should consult a doctor, since removing it yourself can injure the ear or aggravate the situation by pushing the foreign body deeper. In this case, the first aid can be to instill warmed vegetable oil into the ear and at the same time take a lying position. After such manipulations, it moves closer to the exit, and it becomes possible to remove it using tweezers. For this auricle should be pulled back and down, opening the ear canal as much as possible. In other cases, you should contact qualified specialist- To the ENT specialist. A foreign object stuck in the ear can be removed:
· tweezers;
crochet
· suction.
If the cotton wool is visible from the outside, you can pick it up with tweezers and carefully remove it. To prevent the cotton wool from tearing into lint, you should drop oil or hydrogen peroxide into your ear before removing it. It will be much easier to get wet cotton wool than dry one. If the material has penetrated deeply, a hook is used to grab it and pull it out. Sometimes, if it is not possible to reach the cotton wool with ordinary tools, it can be moved using a syringe without a needle or syringe. By sucking out the air and creating a vacuum, the material moves closer to the outlet. Since when removing a foreign object there is a possibility of injuring the eardrum or ear canal, then this procedure should be done by a specialist.
It is also important to consider what not to do in this situation:
· Use sharp objects to remove cotton wool yourself;
· Use a vacuum cleaner;
· Try to wash the cotton wool with peroxide and water;
· Picking your ear with your finger.

If you do not follow these recommendations, there is a risk of injuring your ear or pushing the cotton wool deeper. As a preventive measure, after removing the cotton wool, it is necessary to treat the ear canal with an antiseptic and, if necessary, use anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed by a doctor for several days.

It happens that a person has cotton wool stuck in his ear for one reason or another. Everyone needs to know what to do in these situations, since the problem is quite common, and incorrect and untimely provision of assistance can lead to adverse consequences. In addition, it is important to consider that incorrect provision of assistance can only aggravate the situation and provoke damage and development various diseases. All this should be discussed in more detail.

Symptoms and causes

Most often, cotton ends up in the ear because it got stuck during cleaning. Few people, even adults, know the rules for performing hygiene procedures. Traditionally, cotton swabs are used for this purpose. Some people even make them themselves, that is, they twist a piece of cotton wool onto a match or hairpin. Such a device is even more dangerous than a cotton swab, since the cotton swab can easily slip off and remain in the ear canal.

Also, pieces of cotton wool enter the organ during treatment, when tampons with medicine are placed in the ear or the ear canal is thus insulated.

Regardless of the specific reason why a piece of cotton wool ended up in the ear, it must be removed from there as soon as possible. The following signs will indicate that such a problem has occurred:

ear congestion;
sensation of the presence of a foreign object;
autophony;
discomfort;
decreased hearing acuity.

In some cases it may be added pain symptom, especially if the ear tissue has been damaged. When the eardrum is irritated, if the cotton wool penetrates too deeply, noise occurs. Also, the ingress of individual fibers of material becomes an unpleasant phenomenon. They can cause irritation and itching. Sometimes they cause noise. Over time, they may come out on their own along with normal discharge.

The main consequence is that any foreign object in the ear canal blocks normal transmission sound vibrations. In addition, the risk of developing inflammation increases, since normal ventilation and cleaning of the organ does not occur. As a result, pathogenic microflora begins to actively multiply, which is the cause of otitis media.

When a foreign object penetrates deeply, the sulfur secreted in the external auditory canal is pushed deeper, along with the dirt it retains. As a result, a sulfur plug is formed.

Incorrect actions when trying to remove cotton wool from the ear can complicate the situation, since a person can injure the already vulnerable tissues of the organ. Any wound is open access for infection. In addition, inept actions can lead to cotton wool damaging the eardrum. That is why it is not recommended to try to cope with the problem on your own without the appropriate skills and knowledge.

What to do

To remove cotton wool from the ear, it is better, since an independent attempt to remove it can injure the ear or only complicate the situation by pushing the material even deeper. As first aid, you can drop warmed water into your ear. vegetable oil and lie on the side where the cotton wool is stuck. It should move a little towards the exit. In this case, you can try to pull it out yourself using tweezers. For convenience, the auricle is pulled slightly back and down to open the ear canal.

In all other cases it is necessary. The material extraction process is carried out using the following methods:

using tweezers;
crochet;
by suction.

If the cotton wool is visible from the outside, grab it with tweezers and carefully remove it out. To prevent it from breaking into pieces, oil or hydrogen peroxide is first instilled into the ear. It is much easier to obtain wet material than dry material. For deep penetration, a hook is more suitable. It grabs a foreign object and pulls it out. IN in rare cases, when it is not possible to reach the cotton wool using conventional tools, it can be moved towards you by applying pressure with a syringe without a needle or a small syringe. The sucking of air and the created vacuum provokes the movement of the material.

Since the ear canal or eardrum can be injured during the procedure, a specialist must remove the cotton wool from the ear.

It is important to consider what not to do in this situation:

use sharp objects for self-extraction;
suck out an object with a vacuum cleaner;
try to wash the cotton wool with water or peroxide;
pick your finger in your ear.

If you do not follow these precautions, you risk injuring yourself or pushing the fleece even deeper. To prevent otitis media, it is necessary to treat the ear canal after removing the cotton wool. antibacterial drugs, and if necessary, use anti-inflammatory medications for several days, which your doctor will prescribe to you.

How to properly clean your ears

In order not to encounter such a problem, you need to know how to properly perform hygiene procedures, because it is during ear cleaning that this kind of trouble most often occurs. Most people are at least superficially familiar with the rules, but still not everyone follows them. Such irresponsibility often leads to a series of problems.

To ensure that your ear hygiene is completely safe and does not threaten you with cotton wool getting into your ear canal, follow the following rules and basics of cleaning:

Use high-quality sanitary buds with dense cotton wool. They must be clean, and the cotton wool must sit firmly on the base. If you simply wrap the material around a match or stick, it will likely slip off sooner or later and you will have to go to the doctor to have the piece removed.
If necessary, you can lightly moisten the cotton wool. This will compact it even more, and dried-on dirt will be much easier to remove.
Wax should only be cleaned from the outer part of the ear canal. This is where unnecessary sulfur collects. Everything that lies deeper is natural protection hearing organs from germs and dust.
To avoid pushing lumps of discharge deep into the ears, you need to rotate the wand, but do not make forward movements. If it doesn't give desired effect and dry sulfur still remains in the passage, soften it first. It is good to clean after taking a bath, when the skin and secretions are steamed and soaked.

To soften the discharge, hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide may be instilled into the ear canal beforehand. almond oil literally a few drops at a time. They must be brought to a comfortable temperature, since cold liquid negatively affects the health of the organ and can provoke inflammation.

Here is a list of what not to do:

Inserting the cleaning tool too deeply into ear canal. This is not only a risk of injury to the eardrum. The further you penetrate, the more likely it is to introduce cotton particles.
Picking in the ears with hairpins, toothpicks and other objects, including when trying to remove stuck material.
Touch and penetrate ears with dirty fingers. This way you push the dirt further and risk infection.

If cotton wool is still stuck in your ear, before you take it out, make sure that your manipulations will not lead to even more sad consequences. If you are not sure that the procedure will end absolutely favorably, you should not take risks, it is better.

A foreign object entering the ear is accompanied by unpleasant sensations and can lead to the development infectious processes. The ear canal is designed by nature to be narrow, precisely for this reason. But people, in their desire to help themselves, often try to shove it into various items(matches, cotton swabs, pins). As a result of such manipulations, cotton wool may get stuck in the ear. You need to know how to help yourself or your loved ones in this case.

Remove the cotton wool from your ear as soon as possible

A piece of cotton wool stuck in the ear is an unpleasant situation, but not critical. If you have the opportunity to visit a doctor within the next two days and there are no pain or signs of infection (fever, swelling, throbbing pain), it is better to leave the cotton wool to specialists.

The cause of cotton wool may be cleaning the ear too deeply. The cotton wool from the stick will simply get stuck in the ear canal. Poor quality of sanitary sticks sometimes leads to the cotton wool flying off or the tip of the stick breaking off along with it.

Cotton wool may accidentally get stuck in the ear when inserting a tampon with medicine. Some people put a piece of cotton wool in their ear to protect against wind or loud noise.

Any foreign object in the ear it impairs hearing. Due to the blockage of the passage, there is no sufficient ventilation and self-cleaning. Cotton fibers, irritating the eardrum, can cause pain and itching. Earwax accumulates in the ear and can lead to an inflammatory process.

Wrong actions can aggravate the situation. When performing manipulations, you can push the cotton deeper into the ear or damage the eardrum. Therefore, preference should be given to visiting an ENT specialist.

Extraction methods

Important: the extraction method using a vacuum cleaner is not effective. In it high probability hearing damage due to high level noise.

All manipulations in ear canal must be done with extreme care. Any damage carries with it the risk of infection and development inflammatory processes. If they are ineffective, you should definitely consult a doctor. Foreign bodies stuck in the ear do not come out on their own and lead to irreversible consequences such as damage to the eardrum and hearing loss.

Security measures

In order to avoid traumatic situations, a number of measures must be observed:

You only need to clean the outside of your ears. Deeper areas are capable of self-cleaning. Unnecessary wax comes out of the ear canal itself, capturing dust and dirt;
Cotton swabs should be good quality with tightly wound cotton wool. Using matches will sooner or later lead to an ENT doctor with the problem of cotton wool stuck in the ear;
For better cleansing of dried sulfur, you can slightly moisten the cotton wool with water;
It is better to clean your ears after bath procedures. Steamed sulfur is easier to clean;
The cotton swab should only be used in circular motions. Progressive ones help push dirt and wax even deeper into the ear.
Don't put anything deep into your ear. The item may get stuck there. This can lead to damage to the eardrum and deafness;
Picking the ear canal with foreign objects can lead to damage and subsequent inflammation;
You can get an infection in the ear canal by picking your ear with dirty hands.
There are special preparations for extracting and softening sulfur. By burying them, you can get rid of the need to pick in your ear.

If cotton wool or anything else is stuck in the ear canal, you need to carefully weigh all the risks. You can undertake independent extraction after you are sure that the procedure will not lead to even greater troubles. It is best to seek help from a doctor. IN outpatient setting everything will be done quickly and without risk to health.

I was cleaning my ear, and cotton wool got stuck in my ear from the stick, what should I do?

with matches to the point thanks I pulled it out right away
Can't be cleaned!
God! How dirty your ears are!!!
There are 3 options.
1. Rinse with water from a 20ml syringe. That's what an ENT doctor does. You can only push it deeper with tweezers.
2. Make a paraffin funnel and set it on fire. Can pull it out. This is how they delete sulfur plugs. Funnels are sold ready-made at pharmacies.
3. An ambulance will take you.
The most effective and safe way- screw in a new screw 40-50 mm long and 3 mm in diameter. The new one has intact burrs, it’s easier to grab a cotton swab. Do not forget to pull the auricle slightly back and up to straighten the ear canal
I pulled it out with tweezers. It didn't work out for a very long time. The main thing here, when you feel that you have grabbed the cotton wool, is not to just pull, but first twist the tweezers a little, and then pull it out.
I solved this problem more easily with the help of an IV tube. One end into the ear, and the other into the mouth and blow it out like a vacuum cleaner. The problem was resolved quickly and safely. Just be careful not to swallow the cotton wool from your ear.
Take a match, split the end to one quarter with your teeth, making a whisk, and slightly moisten it with saliva. Carefully, rotating the match in one direction, insert it into the ear, and try to wrap cotton fibers around the shaggy part of the match. Slowly remove the match, rotating it, from your ear. You can do it cleverly - pull out the cotton wool and avoid clogging your ear with match crumbs.
There is no need to leave cotton in your ear until tomorrow. If you can’t get it yourself, call an ambulance, they’ll take you to an ENT specialist.
The hospital emergency room will not turn you away!
I take it out very easily with tweezers
most best option finally cotton swab, (without cotton wool, of course), attach a small piece of Velcro (Velcro has a hard and soft part for hooking, you need the one that is stiffer and just a little bit, even when touched and slightly rotated, the cotton wool clings tightly.
moisten ethyl alcohol and set it on fire --- you'll pull it out yourself (SADIST)
but you can’t clean your ears with cotton swabs... there was a program on TV... the wax goes down and deafness appears... in any village there is a doctor on duty tomorrow... and at night you can go to any hospital... .
with a match it turned out quickly and safely! Thank you! I advise. (method described above)
Now I cleaned my ear with a cotton swab and half of the cotton wool remained in my ear, but I can’t see it, it seems to have gotten deep.
It’s best to twist the toothpick slowly and the cotton wool will be wound up.
The following helped me: I slightly picked the tip of the cotton swab, the one that was left without cotton, it turned out that the end of the plastic tube was not even, and carefully inserted it into the ear, rotating it. When he felt a catch on the cotton wool, he continued to rotate, but stopped inserting it and slowly, continuing to rotate, began to pull it out. AND VOILA! The cotton wool has been removed.
And let them stay THERE! Now you DEFINITELY won’t catch a cold!
drop some warm sunflower oil about 1 ml in the ear, lie on the opposite ear, turn over after 3-4 minutes. The cotton wool should come out, or at least be closer to the exit, so you can even reach it with your fingers.