How to Take Care of the Ears

The ears are a very important part of the human body. Unfortunately, they are often overlooked when it comes to grooming and care. The ears function to collect and process sounds and maintain balance. The human ear has three sections, all of which work together to enable hearing: the inner ear, the middle ear and the outer ear. Most home care of the ears focuses on the outer ear. Only a doctor should care for symptoms arising in the middle and inner ear.

Things You'll Need

• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton balls
• Ear plugs
• Protective headgear
• Sunscreen

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Instructions

• 1

  Wipe your outer ear with a damp washcloth every day when washing your face or taking a shower. Wipe gently to avoid irritating or breaking the delicate skin on your ears.

• 2

  Avoid putting anything into your ears, including cotton swabs, tweezers or other sharps objects. Pushing objects into your ears may damage or rupture your eardrum.

• 3

  Leave wax alone unless it is interfering with hearing or causing other symptoms. Wax protects the inner ear and eardrum by catching dust and debris before it can enter the ear and cause damage. You can remove any wax that accumulates in the outer ear by gently wiping it away with a washcloth or cotton ball.

• 4

  Clean any ear piercings regularly with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. This is especially important for a new piercing. Watch for signs of infection, such as redness, pus, itching, swelling or pain.

• 5

  Prevent the swelling and pain of swimmer's ear by drying your ears after swimming or using ear drops designed to dry out the ears. The Nemours Foundation states that placing a few drops of rubbing alcohol into the ears after swimming will help dry them out and prevent swimmer's ear.

• 6

  Treat upper respiratory infections promptly to reduce the risk of developing an ear infection. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics or other medications for a sinus infection, finish the entire course of medication even if your symptoms improve before your medication runs out.

• 7

  Visit your doctor if you develop symptoms of an ear infection, such as ear pain, redness, swelling or fever. You may require treatment with antibiotics. Ignoring an ear infection can result in a worsening of symptoms or long-term hearing impairment.

• 8

  Wear earplugs or other protective gear during exposure to loud music or noise. Keep your radio and television set at a comfortable level to avoid damaging your hearing.

• 9

  Learn techniques to protect your ears from damage caused by pressure changes during scuba diving and flying. You can also buy earplugs with filters that help equalize pressure changes.

• 10

  Apply sunscreen to your ears every time you go outside, and check your ears regularly for signs of skin cancer or other skin conditions. Any changes in color or texture and any lumps or spots should be reported to your doctor immediately.

• 11

  Wear protective headgear that fully covers the ears when biking, skiing, rollerblading or taking part in any activity that poses a risk to the head or ears.

• 12

  Protect your ears from frostbite during the winter by keeping them covered and dry when outdoors. Ears are more vulnerable to frostbite than most areas of the body because the skin on the ears is very thin.

• 13

  Have your ears checked regularly by a doctor, and learn the warning signs of hearing loss. Symptoms of hearing loss may be subtle and can include difficulty hearing conversations, misunderstanding words, needing to turn the television or radio up to a higher volume, unconsciously reading lips during conversations, difficulty differentiating between simultaneous environmental noises, and ringing in the ears.