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Summary: Using hydrogen peroxide for ear wax removal is pretty harmless as long as the ear drum is intact and functioning properly. Avoid damaging the bones in the ear drum that conduct vibration with information from a physician's assistant in this free video on ear wax removal.
Albert Hedgepeth Jr. graduated from physician's assistant school at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1980. He currently works as a P.A. in gynecology for Wake County, but has experience in cardiac...read more
"Peroxide itself is a substance made of water with an extra molecule of oxygen attached to the water molecule. And when you see it foam and bubble, it's just the extra oxygen molecule coming off the water molecule so you are left with just plain water. So it's a pretty benign substance to put in wounds and in your ear, but you must make sure that anything in your ear that you have an intact timpani membrane or ear drum. This thin membrane separates your external ear from your internal ear where all the tiny bones are that allow you to be able to transmit operation from the ear drum to the cochlea or middle ear so that you can hear. If you have a hole in your ear drum or non intact ear drum and you get fluid in it, it can get infections there. It can cause damage to the bones and to their ability to conduct vibration and therefore you can lose your hearing. So it's important to make sure your ear drum is intact for putting any fluid in it."
eHow Article: Using Hydrogen Peroxide for Ear Wax Removal
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