Cotton Swab Dangers: Don't Put Them in Your Ears

Many of us regularly use cotton swabs to clean our ears, but experts say they cause more harm than good.

Improper use of cotton swabs can cause eardrum perforations, facial paralysis, vertigo, and even deafness. The only safe way to use them is to clean your outer ear.

Ears are self-cleaning body parts, but if you must clean them, use a rinse specially made for the purpose. They are available to purchase in drug stores, or you can make your own at home using equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water at room temperature.

By Zoe Stark, Everyday Health Staff Writer