Is It Safe For A Barber For Ears

[actiondell4]

Went to the barber for a haircut in day night area Pattaya,had a haircut and there was another guy in their cleaning ears.

got this done,now 2 weeks late,i had a massive pain underneath my ear gping on the side of the neck,i have found out i have both ears infected and im still in pain.

do u think having the guy at the barbers clean your ear is any good or could this have caused my pain?

[Pib]

Personally, I wouldn't let a barber shop clean my ears because you just don't know how sanitary the instruments and liquids are used to clean the inside of your ears. Hopefully, the ear cleaner person wasn't reusing Q-tips (doubtful as they are way to cheap) or dipping new Q-tips/new cleaning cloth (more than once) into the same liquid container used to clean the previous guy's ears. Let them cut your hair and dab a little tonic water around your ears to make you smell good...and leave it at that.

[kokesaat]

An American ENT doctor would have a fit if he knew you were allowing a 'barber' to clean your ears with a tiny shovel and a feather brush that have been used on other customers. I suffered from ear infections for a few years (many years ago), the result of allowing my wife to clean out my ears with the same instruments they use in the barber shops.

[phaethon]

Yes, beyond the question of sanitizing the actual instruments, there is also the fact that ear wax is there for a reason - to protect the very delicate skin of the ear canal from all the bugs that would otherwise just love to take up residence. Unless it's actually dripping out of the ear or interfering with hearing there's no need to go q-tipping or shovelling around in there. If there is a need then let a qualified ENT do it or use some gentle proprietary cleaning preparations on the advice of an ENT. But a Thai barber...?

I had an ear infection in Jamaica once; in the 24 hours before I could get to a quack, if I had had my dive knife with me, I could cheerfully have gouged out the side of my head to stop the pain...

Edited December 7, 2010 by phaethon

[Jingthing]

Would you consent to have your barber to do surgery upon you? Sorry, but barber ear cleanings in Thailand are barbaric. Don't ever do that! Yes, I would say it is rather likely your current pain is related to your very unwise decision to go way too local at the barbers. Not that Thais should do that either, but westerners really should know better. The Thai way is not always the good way. Consider liver fluke cancer in Isaan and how people get that if you need further evidence.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Jingthing

[FBN]

It is like having you gardener do a root canal....

Please see an ENT; the pain below the ear may indicate blocked ear canals by wax or debris from an otitis externa. (Ear canal infection.)

[ignoramus]

According to the experts wax removes itself. However, if one wants to hurry things along a bit go for a swim, or buy a 50ml plastic syringe from Tesco and gently flush. Ear pain is serious, as said. ENT specialists are, otherwise, the only answer.

[ajahnlau]

There's an old saying 'don't put anything larger than ur elbow in ur ear'

[FBN]

Indeed; the DIY option is not recommended for this procedure. With pain present, get a professional opinion first or you run the risk of adding insult to injury. A jet of water directed directly at the eardrum is enough to rupture it with untold subsequent miseries.. When done professionally, it is directed at the wall of the ear canal and the water is lukewarm/body temp.

There will be posters who are going to recommend hydrogen peroxide drops but this is a very powerful anti oxidant and can wreak havoc if allowed to get into the middle ear through an undiagnosed ruptured eardrum.