“Ear drum question?”
Hello, I have an open wall in my eardrum, I usually clean my ear with 50/50 alcohol and apple cider vinegar. I’m wondering if it’s possible for me to use olive oil instead. I know it’s great for cleaning ear wax, I’m just not sure I can use it on that ear.
Female | 41 years old
5 Answers
Ear,NoseandThroatDoctor(ENT)Ear,NoseandThroat(ENT)
So you have a hole in your eardrum? It's What were you mean by 'open wall'? The ear does not necessarily need to be cleaned. The skin of the ear canal will exfoliate just like the rest of the skin does. If you are concerned about this process, simply allow hot water to wash into the ear when you take a shower. Otherwise, I would first see an ENT to evaluate the hole in your eardrum, before putting any other products in your ear at all. I wouldn't recommend putting alcohol and apple cider vinegar in your ear if you have a hole in your eardrum. That means whatever fluid you're putting in your ear canal could possibly pass into the middle ear space. I would be more concerned about the possible hole in your eardrum than any wax in your ear at this point. Get that checked out first, then worry about your ear wax.
Given what sounds like a tympanic membrane perforation, I would not recommend putting anything in your ear canals at all. Please seen an ENT physician for evaluation and further guidance.
If there is a hole in that eardrum, you should not be putting anything in there. Also, you should consider seeing an ear specialist and having the whole repaired.
I’m not sure what you mean by “an open wall“unless you’ve had mastoid surgery. I don’t recommend alcohol or apple cider vinegar and ear. The air canal normally contains a small amount of wax. It does no harm, and it dries and flakes out the ear, only to be replaced by the glands that secrete it near the opening of the ear. If you have a mastoid cavity, it should be cleaned once or twice a year by an ear doctor. Otherwise, ears that are left alone do much better than those that are manipulated. One never sees dirt in ear canals, and wax is not dirt. Ear canals are self-maintaining in most people and need no maintenance whatever.
I would advise you to discuss this with your ENT. I’m not certain what you mean that you have an open wall in your eardrum. Perhaps you mean a perforation in the eardrum? Or that you’ve had a mastoidectomy and your ear canal has been surgically modified? Either way, best to discuss with your otolaryngologist to avoid infection. Best of luck!
