Question 1

is it good to clean your ear out every day with qtips?

Accepted Answer

Qtips should never: Be placed in the ear canal. You could push cerumen (ear wax) farther in & compact it or perforate (break) the ear drum. This could also lead to infection.  The external part of the ear does not need to be cleaned every day (that would be stripping it of lubrication). But it is fine to gently  clean the external ear with a q tip.

Question 2

how do you know if you have a flea in your ear? while picking fleas off my dog i felt an itch in my ear, used qtips to relive the itch but i'm afraid.

Accepted Answer

Flea in ear: Your doc can rinse out your ear and the flea will come out, along w/ear wax.  Peace and good health.  Be careful w/Qtips.  You don't want to puncture your eardrum.

Question 3

i'm curious what could happen when you put a q tip too far in your ear?

Accepted Answer

Ruptured ear drum: Worst case scenario, ruptured ear drum and permanent hearing loss.

Question 4

what do you do if you accidentally jammed a q-tip in your ear really hard?

Accepted Answer

See a doctor: you need to go and see a doctor to make sure you did not do any damage and you should not put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow

Question 5

i need an effective way to remove ear wax at home, i see these tools with a spiral at the end, do these work? they say they do not push the wax like a qtip, instead you spin the spiral to collect the wax so you can get it out, are these safe?

Accepted Answer

: Talk to the pharmacist at the local pharmacy for an ear wash kit that may help in washing out ear wax,
For information: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ear-wax-removal-101-the-best-and-safest-ways-to-clear-clogged-ears/

Question 6

had a q tip cotton top removed from ny ear yesterday by an ent.   today im feeling clogged in the ear.   why?

Accepted Answer

Several reasons:: residual swelling ( edema) from removal of the foreign body, retained foreign bodyor some type of inflammation- please call your treating physician.

Question 7

my ears are extremely hot and very icthy i have cleaned them with qtips till they came clean what can be wrong with my ears?

Accepted Answer

External otitis: Sounds like "swimmers ear" which usually caused by Q-tip use. Get ear drops from pharmacist. Consider seeing an ENT doc.

Question 8

please help what can i do? while cleaning out my ears a trace of blood came out on the qtip. is this serious?

Accepted Answer

Probably ok: While this is probably ok, you should consider an appointment with your primary care for an exam of the ear. May need to get it cleaned out as well.Sometime next week should be fine. Hope this helps!

Question 9

pain on right side of ear/behind ear area. starts from bumping ear or when using qtip. has happened for over a year, lasts all day?

Accepted Answer

Ear pain NOS: the cartilage to your ear maybe either sensitive to foreign body or an underlying tissue abnormality.  have a doc take a look at it if it is inflamed or infected.

Question 10

i have itchy ears all the time i scratch with a qtip and its gets better but then it starts right back. what would that be? or what meds can i take?

Accepted Answer

Seb derm / psoriasis: You may have psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis of the ear canal.  A little dab of hydrocortisone 1% twice a day for a few days on an as needed basis will usually do the trick.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

How to remove a qtip stuck in your ear

A member asked:

Is it good to clean your ear out every day with qtips?

A member asked:

How do you know if you have a flea in your ear? while picking fleas off my dog i felt an itch in my ear, used qtips to relive the itch but i'm afraid.

A member asked:

I'm curious what could happen when you put a q tip too far in your ear?

A member asked:

What do you do if you accidentally jammed a q-tip in your ear really hard?

A member asked:

I need an effective way to remove ear wax at home, i see these tools with a spiral at the end, do these work? they say they do not push the wax like a qtip, instead you spin the spiral to collect the wax so you can get it out, are these safe?

A member asked:

Had a q tip cotton top removed from ny ear yesterday by an ent. today im feeling clogged in the ear. why?

A member asked:

My ears are extremely hot and very icthy i have cleaned them with qtips till they came clean what can be wrong with my ears?

A member asked:

Please help what can i do? while cleaning out my ears a trace of blood came out on the qtip. is this serious?

A member asked:

Pain on right side of ear/behind ear area. starts from bumping ear or when using qtip. has happened for over a year, lasts all day?

A member asked:

I have itchy ears all the time i scratch with a qtip and its gets better but then it starts right back. what would that be? or what meds can i take?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?