How to protect your ears? (Ear Care) Let's talk about this!

Compared to the rest of our body, our ears don't seem to ask for much, do they? They don't need to be brushed like our teeth in the morning and evening, or trimmed like our toenails. All our ears really need is a good wash with soap when we shower, just like the rest of our bodies. But even this simple thing can lead to minor problems if not done properly. Today, let's talk about what we should and shouldn't do to keep our ears healthy.

Let's learn about earwax.

You may be thinking, "Do I really need to remove this earwax?" Actually, earwax may seem a bit strange to us, but it does a great service to our ears. The passageway inside your ear, the ear canal, is where this earwax is made. Do you know why? Protect your ears! Think about it, your ear is like a small cave. The walls inside this cave produce this earwax. It's just like a protective shield for our ears. This earwax helps protect the delicate eardrum (`(Eardrum)`) from dust, dirt, and even small insects that come from outside. Not only that, this earwax contains certain chemicals, which also control the growth of certain types of bacteria (`(Bacteria)`). So earwax is not just a nuisance, it's something very important!

Once this earwax builds up, it slowly moves towards the ear canal. It either falls out on its own or is washed away when you shower. If you want, you can gently clean just the ear canal with a clean cloth or washcloth. But don't put too much inside.

There's an old saying, "Don't put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear." Not all old sayings are true, but this one is definitely true! If you put anything in your ear and try to clean it unnecessarily (`(poking around)`), you can damage your ear. Doctors say that even using a cotton bud is not a good idea.

Why is it not good to put things in your ears?

Now you might be thinking, "Why aren't cotton buds good? Since when have we been using them to clean our ears?" Well, when you try to clean your ears with a cotton bud, the biggest problem that can happen is that the earwax gets pushed further in. Think of it like when you sweep a room, instead of throwing the dirt out, you push it into a corner of the room. What happens after a while? The dirt accumulates in that corner and becomes a big problem, right? That's how earwax gets stuck inside the ear. Then you can feel the eardrum feeling heavy, your hearing may decrease, and sometimes you may hear various sounds from inside the ear (`(Tinnitus)`).

Another thing is that when you constantly stimulate the ear canal with a cotton bud, it can damage the delicate skin and even cause an ear canal infection. This means that it can become like a wound inside the ear and can even fester.

And so it is,Never put anything sharp in your ear! Things like a pin, hairpin, key, or pencil tip. Because if something goes in by mistake, it can cause bleeding or damage to the eardrum (`(Eardrum)`), which can be even more serious.

If you feel like your ears are clogged with dirt, or there's too much earwax, your ears feel heavy, or your hearing is poor, it's best to see a doctor, tell your mom or dad, and have them cleaned properly. They know the right, safe methods for that.

This is special for those who wear pierced ears and earrings!

Piercing your ears is beautiful, but if you don't take care of them properly, they can lose their beauty and cause problems! As soon as you get your ears pierced, you should keep your earrings in until your ear holes are completely healed. This usually takes about 6 weeks. If you don't, your holes can close up again.

Also, it is important to prevent infections in newly pierced ears.

• Keep your hands clean: Before touching your pierced ears, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
• Cleaning: Using a little rubbing alcohol can help remove germs. With the help of an adult, soak a clean cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and, while the earring is in the ear, rub it around the hole on both sides (front and back) at least twice a day. Then, rotate the earring several times. This will allow the alcohol to penetrate the earring shaft and clean it thoroughly. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend an antiseptic solution.

Does your ear piercing look pus-filled? Check for these signs of infection (`(Infection Signs)`)

If you think your pierced earlobe is oozing, meaning it's infected, tell your mom or dad right away. You may see these signs of an infected earlobe:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Feeling hot to the touch
• Severe pain
• Sometimes a yellow or green fluid, similar to pus, drains out.

Don't wait and think, "It will get better on its own." Imagine, Nilu's mother pierced his ears with a needle . After two or three days, one of Nilu's earlobes became red, swollen, and painful to touch. When her mother looked, she saw a little pus. Without panicking, her mother quickly took her to a doctor. The doctor looked at it and said, "This is a minor infection, nothing to worry about. Just use the medicine I'm giving you." Nilu's ear healed completely in a few days. See? If you get treatment quickly, you can get well easily.

Do you swim often? Then let's learn about 'Swimmer's Ear'!

Sometimes, swimming can cause a condition called 'Swimmer's Ear'. Medically, it's also called 'Otitis Externa'. This is when the outer part of your ear, the ear canal, becomes infected, causing swelling and pain.

This happens when water gets trapped inside the ear canal. Just think, when there is always water, the skin inside the ear becomes wet and feels like it is just soaking wet. Then that skin can easily get damaged and become delicately injured. That is when germs like bacteria can easily enter that skin and cause an infection. Especially when bathing in ponds or places with dirty water, the chances of getting 'Swimmer's Ear' are high.

If you think you have 'Swimmer's Ear', it means:

• It hurts inside the ear,
• The pain is too much when pulling the earlobe,
• It feels like the inside of the ear is swollen,
• Maybe a little watery liquid or pus (`(Pus)`) is coming out,

You should definitely see a doctor to tell your mom or dad. There are special ear drops for this. They can help you heal faster. As soon as you finish swimming, tilt your head to the side to let the water out of your ears. Dry the outside of your ears well with a towel. Some people use special ear plugs to put in your ears before swimming to prevent water from getting in. That's also a good way.

"But remember, if you have an ear problem, especially if it's painful, don't try home remedies on your own. It's safest to consult a doctor."

How do you protect your ears from the sun and cold?

When we talk about ears, we also need to think about the weather. Our earlobes are a very sensitive place.

On sunny days, don't forget to wear a hat when you go out, or apply some sunscreen to your ears. Otherwise, what will happen? Your ears can get sunburned , just like your skin. The skin on your ears is very delicate.

Similarly, during the winter, that is, on very cold days, you should keep your ears well covered. It doesn't matter whether you wear a hat or a headband. Do you know why? Because when it's very cold outside, your ears can easily get frostbite . Oh my, that's a very painful experience! The blood circulation in your ears decreases and the tissue can even die. Imagine, you went to a cold place like Nuwara Eliya and went out early in the morning without a hat. After a while, your ears turn red, numb, and start to hurt. Those are the first signs of frostbite. If that happens, you should quickly go to a warm place and warm your ears up. Don't rub them too much, as doing so can further damage the skin. Therefore, it is very important to protect your ears from the cold.

So, here are some take-home messages from what we've talked about:

Okay, so we've talked a lot about protecting your ears today, haven't we? Keeping these things in mind will go a long way in helping you maintain healthy ears.

• When washing the ears:When bathing, use a little soap, just like you would any other part of your body, to thoroughly wash the outside of your ear, the earlobe, and behind your ear. But don't try to get water into the ear canal.
• About earwax: Earwax is a natural substance that protects the ear. It comes out naturally. Gently wipe only the ear opening with a piece of cloth. Do not put anything inside the ear , especially cotton buds (`(Cotton Bud)`) and sharp objects. If the earwax seems to be very clogged, or if you have reduced hearing, see a doctor.
• Ear piercing: For newly pierced ears, do not remove earrings until the hole has healed. Wash your hands and clean them with a recommended solution (e.g., rubbing alcohol) two to three times a day with the help of an adult. If you have signs of infection, such as pus, seek medical advice immediately.
• When swimming: To avoid 'Swimmer's Ear', dry your ears thoroughly after swimming. If your ears hurt, see a doctor and get the appropriate medication ('Ear Drops').
• Weather protection: Apply sunscreen to your ears when going out in the sun, or wear a hat. Keep your ears well covered on cold days to avoid frostbite.

Simply put, your ears are very precious and sensitive organs. So don't forget to treat them with love and care! If you have any questions or doubts, don't be shy and ask a doctor.

Ear Health, Ear Care, Earwax, Pierced Ears, Swimmer's Ear, Ear Infections, Ear Care, Otitis Externa, Frostbite