Ear pick

Last updated
A bamboo ear pick with a down puff Bamboo ear pick.jpg
A bamboo ear pick with a down puff
A metal ear pick Metal ear pick.jpg
A metal ear pick

Ear picks, also called ear scoops, or ear spoons, or earpicks, are a type of curette used to clean the ear canal of earwax (cerumen). They are preferred and are commonly used in East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia because Asians tend to develop dry ear wax. [1] [2]

Contents

In Asia, these are traditionally made from bamboo or precious metals such as silver or gold, but more commonly now, from stainless steel or plastic. European ear scoops produced up to the early 19th century were made from either bronze or precious metals such as silver.

Use of ear picks to remove wax is discouraged by some health professionals for fear of damaging the ear and causing infections.

Types

Other than the wide variety of materials used to make them, ear picks vary widely in their tips and embellishments. Disposable plastic ear picks with a cotton swab at one end are increasingly popular.

Tips

Embellishments

Culture

East and South Asian

Japanese man using ear pick Mimikaki Ear pick 8jo WATANABE Hachijo.jpg
Japanese man using ear pick

Ear picks are a commonly used item and preferred for ear wax removal in East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia; most people in these areas have dry ear wax which can be easily removed using the tool. [5] [ page needed ]

It can be used individually or by another person. The person having their ears cleaned often lies or bends down with their head in the lap of the person doing the cleaning. The cleaning of ears is often performed by a parent on a child or, among adults, by one's partner. [6] It may also be performed by professional (non-medical) ear cleaners on the streets of cities in countries such as India, China, and Vietnam. [6]

Some individuals find ear-picking to be highly pleasurable, thus contributing to the popularity of this service being offered in Asian establishments such as massage parlors, spas, and salons. [7]

European

Ear-spoons and ear picks are found dating from the post-medieval period of British history back into the Roman times. [8] [9] Ear-spoons have also been found in Scandinavian archeological Viking-age dig sites. [10] Ornate ear scoops have also been found in 9th century Anglo-saxon sites. [11]

Potential hazards

The practice of ear picking may pose health hazards to the human ear if performed incorrectly. One potential danger is that of accidentally puncturing the eardrum and/or breaking the auditory ossicles while ear picking. Usage of unsterilized ear picks can also cause infection when they are shared among different individuals.

Ear cleaning in general may also be ineffective when used by one with little experience or guidance. When done incorrectly, significant amounts of ear wax may be pushed deeper into the ear canal rather than removed. [12] The lining of the ear is delicate and can be easily damaged. Furthermore, the ear itself is to an extent self-cleaning, and produces earwax as protection from dirt, dust, and bacterial infections. [13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Overfield, Theresa (1985). Biologic variation in health and illness: race, age, and sex differences. Menlo Park, Calif: Addison-Wesley, Nursing Division. p.  46. ISBN   0-201-12810-1. LCCN   85001338. OCLC   11677368. OL   3021176M. ... most common type in Whites and Blacks is dark brown and moist. Dry wax, most common in Orientals and Native Americans, is gray and dry. It is flaky and may form a thin mass that lies in the ear canal.
  2. ↑ Kruszelnicki, Karl (14 April 2015). "The science of stinky sweat and earwax". ABC .
  3. ↑ Leong, AC; Aldren, Christopher (August 2005). "A non-randomized comparison of earwax removal with a 'do-it-yourself' ear vacuum kit and a Jobson-Horne probe". Clinical Otolaryngology . 30 (4): 320–3. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2273.2005.01020.x. PMID   16209672. S2CID   21943297.
  4. ↑ D'Ambra, Eve (2007). Roman Women. Cambridge University Press. pp. 116–17. ISBN   978-0-521-81839-1. LCCN   2005036464. OCLC   62679876. OL   3419867M.
  5. ↑ Overfield, T. (1985). Biologic Variation in Health and Illness: Race, Age, and Sex Differences. Menlo Park, CA, USA: Addison-Wesley Publishing. ISBN   0-201-12810-1. LCCN   85001338. OCLC   11677368. OL   3021176M.
  6. 1 2 Keehn, Laura Fumiko, "The Art of Ear Picking", SWINDLE Magazine , no. 10, archived from the original on 2007-09-14, retrieved 2007-06-19
  7. ↑ Krieger, Daniel (15 January 2011), "Tokyo trend: Ear-cleaning parlors", CNN Travel , Cable News Network, archived from the original on 17 September 2013, retrieved 11 September 2013
  8. ↑ "Silver EAR SCOOP", Portable Antiques Scheme, The British Museum, archived from the original on 2020-04-11, retrieved 2013-09-12
  9. ↑ "Cast EAR SCOOP", Portable Antiques Scheme, The British Museum, archived from the original on 2013-12-30, retrieved 2013-09-12
  10. ↑ Wolf, Kirsten (2004). Daily life of the Vikings. Greenwood. p.  76. ISBN   0-313-32269-4. LCCN   2004015184. OCLC   55846285. OL   10420198M.
  11. ↑ "Anglo-Saxon Art in the Round:Animal Art", Fitzwilliam Museum , University of Cambridge, archived from the original on 2013-07-03, retrieved 2013-09-12
  12. ↑ "Can You Massage Ear Wax Out? A Gentle and Natural Approach". Bebird. 2024-11-21. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  13. ↑ "Essential Tools for Ear Care: A Closer Look at the Cerumen Hook and Jobson Horne Probe". MedicalResearch.com. December 24, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.