Are Q-tips Bad For You?
Also Known As: cotton swabs
Short answer
Using Q-tips to clean your ears is asking for trouble. Most do not know exactly how far in the ear drum is, which in most cases is probably closer than you think. Hitting your eardrum with a Q-tip can result in permanent damage.
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
For the purpose of this article, it will be assumed that you are looking at this to find out about the health effects of putting Q-tips into your ears. For other applications, i.e. using Q-tips as intended, they are perfectly safe.
If you look at a Q-tip box, it will tell you right there that they are not for use inside your ears. Still, many people - if not most - use them to clean the wax or water out of their ears. When applied in this manner, Q-tips are very dangerous.
First, earwax is naturally produced by the body - and like most things in the body that occur naturally (sorry, appendix), earwax is there for a reason. Earwax not only makes the ear canal waterproof (which prevents water from getting stuck inside your ear in the first place), it is acidic and works as an antibacterial agent, protecting you from various ear infections. Two possible things occur when you use a Q-tip with regard to earwax. The first thing is pulling the earwax out, which allows water to build up and ear infections to take hold. The second scenario involves pushing the earwax deeper towards the eardrum, which can cause problems (including vertigo) and requires more invasive methods to remove.
The greatest danger of using a Q-tip, however, is going just a little too deep inside the ear canal and hitting the ear drum. If after using a Q-tip you have ever felt slightly off-balance, it is most likely because you have just hit the three tiny bones in your ear - the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. If the Q-tip is close enough to hit those bones, it is close enough to do something even worse - puncture your ear drum. Doing this may result in damage requiring surgery and even cause irreversible total hearing loss.
Possible short-term side effects
- vertigo
-
hearing loss
-
wax pushed into deeper part of ear canal
Possible long-term side effects
Healthier alternatives
Please turn your Ad Blocker off to see this content. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-01-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 01-01-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016
Approved by 
