Is it safe to clean the ears with alcohol?
Disease description:
My ears have been feeling itchy these past few days, and I'm thinking about using some alcohol to wipe them. I'm not sure if that's okay—can I use alcohol to clean my ears?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lu Cheng
It is not recommended to clean the ears with alcohol. If there is minor dirt on the outer ear, gently wipe it with a clean, damp towel. Using alcohol to clean the ears may cause several adverse effects.
On one hand, alcohol is irritating. If there are wounds or breaks in the skin on the outer ear, alcohol may cause severe pain, delay wound healing, and even worsen infections.
On the other hand, if alcohol accidentally gets into the ear canal, it may irritate the skin of the external auditory canal, leading to external otitis, causing symptoms such as pain, itching, and discharge. In patients with a perforated eardrum, alcohol entering the middle ear could lead to more serious complications.
