Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksUsesDirectionsWhen to Avoid ItWhen to Get HelpOther Treatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Uses
Directions
When to Avoid It
When to Get Help
Other Treatments
It’s safe to use rubbing alcohol for these purposes when done correctly. However, there are several instances when you shouldn’t try it, like if you have a perforated eardrum or an existingear infection. As always, it’s best to consult a healthcare professional before attempting to self-treat a medical problem.
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Does Rubbing Alcohol Dry Out Ears?
Yes, rubbing alcohol dries out ears. When rubbing alcohol touches your skin, your body heat causes it to evaporate—or turn to gas—quickly. As it evaporates, it takes water with it, creating a cooling and drying effect on your skin.
This same drying effect is the reason why it should only be used occasionally to dry out ears. Repeated exposure or overuse can dry out your ears too much, leading to irritation, cracked skin, infection, and other complications.
When to Use Rubbing Alcohol in Ears
This remedy is commonly used for a few purposes:
If you have an existing ear condition or unexplained ear symptoms, consult a healthcare provider before using rubbing alcohol in your ear, as this method may worsen the issue rather than help.
How to Flush Your Ears
To flush your ears with rubbing alcohol:
Make sure to use isopropyl alcohol with a concentration of 70% or less, as higher concentrations can be too harsh on the skin. If you are concerned about the rubbing alcohol irritating your skin, you can dilute it with water.
Never put objects,including cotton swabs, in your ear canal. Doing so can push wax or other substances deeper into your ear canal or scratch or puncture your eardrum.
When Not to Use It
It can be harmful to put rubbing alcohol in the ear if you have:
In each of these cases, using rubbing alcohol in the ear may cause more harm than good. See a healthcare provider for a more suitable treatment plan.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
You should also see a healthcare provider if:
None of these can or should be treated with at-home remedies.
Alternative Remedies
Other treatments for common ear ailments include:
Is Hydrogen Peroxide or Rubbing Alcohol Better for Cleaning Ears?The oxygen in hydrogen peroxide often bubbles off, leaving the ear canals wet and increasing the risk of infection. Rubbing alcohol may therefore be a better choice for keeping the ear canals dry and clean.
Is Hydrogen Peroxide or Rubbing Alcohol Better for Cleaning Ears?
The oxygen in hydrogen peroxide often bubbles off, leaving the ear canals wet and increasing the risk of infection. Rubbing alcohol may therefore be a better choice for keeping the ear canals dry and clean.
Summary
If you are unsure what is causing your ear pain or other symptoms, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis. While some conditions that affect the ear typically go away on their own, others may require further treatment.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stamford Pediatric Associates.Ear infections - swimmer’s ear.Rocky Mountain Ear Center.Earwax & earwax blockage.Iowa Health Care.Otitis externa: Get rid of swimmer’s ear.Stanford School of Medicine.Ear flushes.Harvard Health Publishing.What is the best way to remove earwax?Banner Health.5 tips to remove water from your ears.National Institutes of Health.Ear irrigation.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Stanford Medicine.Treatment for swimmer’s ear.Krouse HJ, Magit AE, O’Connor S, Schwarz SR, Walsh SA.Plain language summary: earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;156(1):30-37. doi:10.1177/0194599816680327Mayo Clinic.Ruptured eardrum (perforated eardrum): diagnosis.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stamford Pediatric Associates.Ear infections - swimmer’s ear.Rocky Mountain Ear Center.Earwax & earwax blockage.Iowa Health Care.Otitis externa: Get rid of swimmer’s ear.Stanford School of Medicine.Ear flushes.Harvard Health Publishing.What is the best way to remove earwax?Banner Health.5 tips to remove water from your ears.National Institutes of Health.Ear irrigation.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Stanford Medicine.Treatment for swimmer’s ear.Krouse HJ, Magit AE, O’Connor S, Schwarz SR, Walsh SA.Plain language summary: earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;156(1):30-37. doi:10.1177/0194599816680327Mayo Clinic.Ruptured eardrum (perforated eardrum): diagnosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Stamford Pediatric Associates.Ear infections - swimmer’s ear.Rocky Mountain Ear Center.Earwax & earwax blockage.Iowa Health Care.Otitis externa: Get rid of swimmer’s ear.Stanford School of Medicine.Ear flushes.Harvard Health Publishing.What is the best way to remove earwax?Banner Health.5 tips to remove water from your ears.National Institutes of Health.Ear irrigation.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.Stanford Medicine.Treatment for swimmer’s ear.Krouse HJ, Magit AE, O’Connor S, Schwarz SR, Walsh SA.Plain language summary: earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;156(1):30-37. doi:10.1177/0194599816680327Mayo Clinic.Ruptured eardrum (perforated eardrum): diagnosis.
Stamford Pediatric Associates.Ear infections - swimmer’s ear.
Rocky Mountain Ear Center.Earwax & earwax blockage.
Iowa Health Care.Otitis externa: Get rid of swimmer’s ear.
Stanford School of Medicine.Ear flushes.
Harvard Health Publishing.What is the best way to remove earwax?
Banner Health.5 tips to remove water from your ears.
National Institutes of Health.Ear irrigation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection basics.
Stanford Medicine.Treatment for swimmer’s ear.
Krouse HJ, Magit AE, O’Connor S, Schwarz SR, Walsh SA.Plain language summary: earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;156(1):30-37. doi:10.1177/0194599816680327
Mayo Clinic.Ruptured eardrum (perforated eardrum): diagnosis.
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