Buzz
Many people believe ear candling is effective, and if you're trying to avoid using Q-tips, this treatment might seem like a viable option for removing earwax. However, the promises made are far too good to be true: Ear candling doesn't work and could even pose a danger to your health.
Ear candling does not help remove earwax.
The concept behind ear candling involves a candle shaped like a tube that supposedly creates a vacuum to draw out wax from the ears. (Some practitioners claim additional benefits, but those are, let's say, highly exaggerated. Here, we'll stick to the more believable aspects.)
A 1996 study found that when an ear candle is placed in a model ear that can measure pressure, no vacuum is created. (If you think about it, it’s clear that there isn’t any substantial air movement from a candle. Warm air rises gently, but recall the last time you lit a candle—did you feel a rush of air as it burned?)
That same study also examined the waxy residue that collects at the bottom of the candle. If ear candling worked as claimed, the residue should mainly be earwax, and the dark blob might convince people that earwax is being removed. However, chemical analysis revealed that it was simply candle wax. (The researchers searched for the chemical components of candle wax and found plenty. They also checked for known compounds of human earwax, but found none.) Meanwhile, the individuals whose ears were candled didn’t have any less earwax afterward. In summary, ear candling doesn’t work. A 2006 review concluded that 'there are no data to suggest that it is effective for any condition.'
Ear candling can actually worsen your earwax buildup.
Alright, ear candling doesn’t work, but some people still go through with it, thinking it couldn’t possibly harm them. Unfortunately, it can.
Burns from the candle are not uncommon, as you might expect. With a flame so close to your hair, if the practitioner doesn’t hold it correctly (or if it falls out of place), you could end up getting burned.
Even when everything works as intended, ear candling could actually add wax to your ears. Since there’s no suction involved, wax is more likely to move downward than upward. Numerous case studies have shown that people end up with candle wax in their ears after the procedure; here’s one example.
The FDA has also issued warnings against ear candling. In 2017, they stated: 'Over the past decade, the FDA has received reports of burns, punctured eardrums, and ear canal blockages that required outpatient surgery due to the use of ear candles.'
Once again, ear candling doesn’t work to remove earwax.
Ear candling doesn’t eliminate earwax and could even add wax to your ears (along with the risk of burns). The American Academy of Audiology has labeled the practice 'ineffective and dangerous,' so it’s best to steer clear of it.
