Ear Wax Removal by way of Micro suction or the dreaded Ear Vacuum

We have tested many products some good, some bad and some are just awful, one product falls into that category and is known as the ear vacuum.

Micro Suction works, but only in the hands of  a professional and more importantly using professional Micro Suction equipment - preparation is the key to successful ear wax removal by way of Micro-suction.

To remove stubborn ear wax blockages via micro-suction one must have already separated the hardened Cerumen from the wall of the inner ear canal for it work.  The surface of the inner ear is lined with hairs and secretes Cerumen so a blockage can be difficult to remove as it is transfused within the ear, anchored in by hairs and soft/hard Cerumen.

To loosen the blockage you can either see a trained professional who will use a Speculum to seperate the blockage from the ear canal wall  or you can attempt to dilute the softer Cerumen holding the blockage in place, this can be done by using olive oil or glycerin and other similar products on the market such as sodium bicarbonate, however we have found that Glycerin is faster at loosening the blockage in as little as 30 minutes.

One particular product that we are keen to draw you attention to is the dreaded Ear Vacuum that is currently being sold online on both Amazon and Ebay.

Luckily Amazon has the facility to allow customers to review products and that has laid bare the total inefficiency this product delivers to those who unfortunately have wasted their money on it.

It may look impressive, but inside that bulbous housing is a simple domestic fan, powered by a battery and an on/off switch instead of a variable controller.  Having tested this product we can conclude that it lacked sufficient power to even move grains of sugar on a table and is nothing more than a cheap gimmick.

IS GLYCERINE BETTER THAN OLIVE OIL, SALINE OR CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE FOR REMOVING STUBBORN EAR WAX?

IS GLYCERINE BETTER THAN OLIVE OIL, SALINE OR CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE FOR REMOVING STUBBORN EAR WAX?

After reviewing Kyrosol, I was asked to look closer into why Glycerine has been used as a way to remove stubborn ear wax, as this was not commonly used in the UK market place.

Olive Oil, Carbamide Peroxide & Saline were the main ingredients in all the products we reviewed and retail on www.earsyringe.co.uk.  Until Kyrosol came along I never knew Glycerine could be used to remove wax so after speaking with the manufacturer to see what background data they could provide, I was given the following – happy reading.

“Glycerin is a natural (organic) derived liquid with alcohol molecules – Kyrosol uses Glycerine (notice the extra “e” on the end) so this format is diluted with water to make it less viscous. The alcohol is what actually dissolves the wax. But more importantly, the Glycerine get’s in between the wax and the skin of the ear canal, helping to ensure the wax is easier to remove – so there is a “double action” treatment resulting in two benefits.  This is why Kyrosol is supplied with an ear syringe, so that after 30 minutes any impacted, hard wax is far easier to remove as the wax plug has detached from the skin and is now lubricated, ensuring water can surround and slide out the blockage.

I have read articles and commentary’s that Carbamide Peroxide is actually bad for the skin, particularly young people so we avoided using that."

Hans – Squip Inc

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This useful snippet from the net is credited to Nadia Benavidez a hearing instrument scientist based in the USA.

"Normally, the human ear is self cleaning. Wax is naturally moist and oily, but over time ear wax build-up can harden and become stuck in the ear. Glycerin is a clear liquid found in many lotions and soaps, as well as in foods and medicines. Glycerin lubricates, softens, and moisturizes whatever it comes into contact with. Accordingly, Glycerin is often used to remove stubborn ear wax.

Removing Ear Wax

o    According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, most cases of ear wax blockage respond well to home treatments used to soften wax. Glycerin is considered a safe home treatment for softening ear wax. Only three to four drops are needed at a time. When putting drops into your ear, according to Dr. Timothy C. Hain, let the drops stay in your ear for two to three minutes, then lie down on a towel to let any excess Glycerin drain out. Dr. Hain also warns patients that this should not be performed if you have, or there's the potential that you have, an eardrum perforation.

Expert Insight

o    There are several commercial brands of ear wax drops. Some claim that they dissolve ear wax, others state that they are for softening. Most of these brands contain Glycerin, as well as peroxide, water and oil. Commercial drops are no more effective at removing ear wax than plain Glycerin. Glycerin can be found at most pharmacies and purchased in a bottle with a dropper.

Softening Ear Wax

o    The American Academy of Otolaryngology also recommends using Glycerin drops prior to ear syringing or flushing. Ear syringing is more effective if you soften the ear wax and lubricate your ear 15 to 30 minutes prior to syringing. Ear syringing---commonly used to remove ear wax---involves using a bulb syringe to squirt warm water in the ear and flush out ear wax.

Prevention

o    Glycerin can also be used to help prevent ear wax build up. As a preventative measure, use 2 to 3 drops in each ear once a week. Keep in mind that ear wax is produced to help prevent ear infections. Your goal shouldn't be to eliminate wax, but just to avoid a blockage. If you suspect a blockage---symptoms include---fullness in the ear, earache, diminished hearing and itching in the ear---you may want to see a doctor first. Ear infections can present these same symptoms, and an ear infection needs medical treatment.

Now available in the UK at http://www.earsyringe.co.uk/kyrosol-ear-wax-removal-kit-125-p.asp

www.earsyringe.co.uk

NEW PRODUCT - KYROSOL

NEW PRODUCT ALERT 

KYROSOL EAR WAX REMOVAL KIT

 

Product Facts

Manufacturer: SQUIP

Price: £10.49

Helps Soften and Dissolve the most stubborn, impacted dry ear wax blockages using a new solution that contains Glycerin, Sodium Bicarbonate & Purified Water.

Uses the Otoclear Tri-Stream Tip by Bionix for Safe and Effective ear Irrigation.

1 x Earplug is provided to enable mobility during the 30 minutes required for the solution to soften and dissolve the wax.

10 x Pipettes are provided in each box, refills are available online at £9.14 for a pack of 20.

Ear Syringe body has a 20ml capacity and is supplied with a hygienic storage case. For future use.

Box Contents:

• 1 x Otoclear Tri-Stream Tip
• 1 x 20ml Syringe
• 1 x earplug
• 10 x Pipettes
• 2 x hygienic cases
• Full user instructions in colour with diagrams

Description

“The Kyrosol Eax Wax Removal Kit was developed to dissolve excess ear wax, soften ear wax plugs, or to prevent the recurrence of ear wax plugs.

Kyrosol is also recommended for dissolving and flushing out hard, dry or impacted wax build-ups.

Each Kyrosol single dose pipette contains glycerine – an excellent natural dissolver of ear wax and completely safe for use in applications that require contact with sensitive skin, such as the ear canal.

The patented rinsing system was designed for optimum safety and effectiveness.”

I will be trying this out next time I get a blockage and will publish an addendum to this reflecting an honest review.

Now available in the UK at http://www.earsyringe.co.uk/kyrosol-ear-wax-removal-kit-125-p.asp

www.earsyringe.co.uk

Ear Picks, Curettes, Q-Tips vs Ear Wiz

 

Don’t tell me that you have never been told by your family doctor, or a good friend that sticking anything larger than your elbow into your ear is a big NO NO!  Sarcasm aside, they do have a point, sticking objects into your ear canal is putting your hearing at risk for sure - This includes Q-tips, Ear Picks & Curettes.

Q-Tips will just push the wax deeper into the ear canal, at some point the wax will start to put pressure on the ear drum and this is painful, see your local ENT surgeon or Audiologist immediately.

Ear Picks should only be used by healthcare professionals who can clearly see into your ear and how far the pick is probing, never try to do this yourself or with a friend.

Curettes are similar to ear picks but have a scooped end, for digging out ear wax but still pose the same dangers as Ear Picks.

To my astonishment none of the products I have mentioned above seen have a safety stop to prevent over insertion; it would be a simple addition and prevent many injuries across the world.

Commonly the picks & curettes available are made from metal, so you also  need to be very careful about scratching the walls of the ear canal, these walls are lined with tiny hairs that are important for bacterial defence, probing and scratching the walls can damage not only the hairs but the skin that holds them in place, increasing the risk of infection and the further stimulation of more Cerumen.

Metal Ear picks should be avoided, instead opting for the softer plastic type with a softer tip.

Let’s take a look at the EarWiz, a simple tool that incorporates a safety stop, easy grip handle and has a soft tipped scoop on a curved arm that allows you to remove wax from the ear canal in a simple twist & scoop action.

At only £4.49 I believe this product is a far safer, more effective ear wax removal device than any other similar product currently available & is great for those who use hearing aids, earplugs or earphones on a regular basis as this product can help to keep the ear canal free from compressed wax aiding the natural flow of Cerumen and helping to prevent the need for syringing.

Steel Ear Irrigators - Looking Back

LOOKING BACK

Do you remember these? The first time I undertook ear irrigation was in 1981, talk about overkill – these monsters are around 10 inches long and 2 inches thick and were used by  the NHS for many years. I visited my doctor on many occasions with ear wax blockages and he always referred me to the duty nurse after a week of olive oil.  The nurse would fill up one of these with water, throw on an apron and blast your affected ear until the wax blockage popped out.

Due to the high pressure some unfortunate patients suffered ruptured ear drums during the process, costing the NHS an average of £40,000 per person. ...ouch!

The steel syringe is archaic technology, the tip itself does not allow for efficient backflow, so water pressure can build up in the ear and that was partly the reason for some of the liability claims.  The jet of water from the tip was direct, again putting pressure on the ear drum. 

New devices include tips that are angled, that squirt against the ear canal wall rather than straight down the ear canal. These new tips are included on the AculifeEar Wax Removal Syringe.

As you can imagine, to save costs the NHS stopped using them and now use a more sensitive product called the Propulse NG Ear Irrigator costing around £174.00 the last time I looked.

The Steel Irrigation syringe can still be found in vet’s  practices and some third world countries

Unfortunately the Steel Ear irrigation syringe is still available on retail stores such as Amazon and Ebay,  it clearly should not be sold as an Ear Syringe to unsuspecting customers.

So to all those retailers who sell these products online, is your insurance company aware of this?  Is your current liability insurance adequate?

 If not you could find yourself in hot water.

All About Cerumen

The body naturally produces Cerumen (Ear Wax) by lining the ear canal to protect against infection.

The ear canal is lined with hairs that naturally move the wax out of the ear canal into the outer ear.

However on occasion, or unless you are genetically prone to lots of wax like me you have to use other measures to ensure you are not left deaf for long periods of the year. The worst thing you can do is insert Q-tips, this not only pushes wax further into the ear canal but stimulates the hairs in the ear to produce more Cerumen.

In mild cases using a olive oil in the ear can soften the wax, tilt you head, use 5 drops of olive oil and then plug the ear with some cotton wool or swimmers earplugs and leave for a few minutes.Once the wax has melted use a syringe, either a bulb syringe or the Aculife Ear Wax Removal syringe that I find most effective to wash out the ear. .Do this daily for around 4 days and that should solve most ear wax problems.

There are kit’s on the market that use Carbamide Peroxide instead of Olive Oil, I have heard lots of stories about this particular chemical causing havoc with existing perforated eardrums, so you if you are suspicious that you may have a perforated ear drum do not attempt to syringe or use any liquids, immediately consult a doctor or ENT surgeon in your area.

We stock a number of useful products on  www.earsyringe.co.uk that are all used to prevent and cure ear wax blockages. This website is devoted to all those people out there who suffer with ear wax blockages like me, so please leave your feedback and ideas on the blog.

Hopi Candles, Ear Cones - NO!

Hopi Candles, Ear Cones - NO!

Hopi Ear Candles & Ear Cones

Ear candles and cones are a popular approach to the removal of excessive ear wax as an alternative to more scientific methods and more so in the far East. The practice involves placing a  wax candle or paper cone in the ear canal. The candle has a wick which is lit, the flame then draws air up from underneath it creating a vacuum that is supposed to draw out ear wax and other unwanted foreign particles..

Do They Actually Work?

After you have had your earn cone treatment you open the paper fold to reveal all sorts of secretions and colourings of wax, however please do not assume this has come from your ear as many critics of this practice suggest that the wax has not come from the ear but the candle itself.  It has been proved that the same candles burned outside of anyone’s ear produced the same coloured wax secretions in the cone.

Ear Candle Safety

If you are going to put a burning candle that drips hot, melting wax then you can expect an element of danger. Many users have scalded their ear canals and even damaged or ruptured their ear drums. The practice has even been outlawed in Canada because of the disputed claims and sustained injuries. The report is freely available here

Always remember, though -- when clearing your ears, be safe, be careful and if you are not sure consult with a qualified professional.

If you are based in the UK visit www.earsyringe.co.uk for a full range of safer alternative to removing stubborn ear wax.