If your social media feed is anything like mine, you’ve probably seen videos of people getting their ears flushed with warm water. It’s called ear irrigation, and yes it’s as oddly satisfying as it looks.
But before you grab a kit or book an appointment at the nearest spa, let’s talk about a few things you should know.
Ear Irrigation Can Be Safe, But Only In the Right Setting
Warm water irrigation is something we use in our audiology clinics all the time. When done correctly, it’s an easy, comfortable way to remove stubborn earwax. In fact, it’s often gentler than scraping or manually digging wax out.
But here’s the catch: before anyone starts flushing water into your ears, those ears should be checked first. If you have a hole in your eardrum, an infection, or recent ear surgery, irrigation could make things worse.
And water temperature matters. If it’s not just right (close to body temperature), you could get very dizzy, sometimes enough to throw off your whole day.
Why It’s Suddenly Everywhere
I get why it’s trending, there’s something satisfying about the whole process, and you do leave feeling squeaky-clean. More businesses are even offering it as a wellness service. But remember, just because it’s popular doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.
Our Advice
If your ears feel blocked or you’re curious about ear irrigation, start with someone you trust. Have your ears looked at first to make sure irrigation is safe for you.
We’re all for healthy ears — but your hearing is too important to leave to a trend.
