Comment on Who is the enemy?
RogueBanana@piefed.zip 3 weeks ago
I know q-tips aren't safe or whatever but man it feels too good to stop.
Yeah, I am not going to contradict any doctors when it comes to the risks, but for my ears and the way I do it, I haven’t ever hurt myself and my PCP says my ears are completely clear at each checkup.
I think I’m fortunate to have pretty light thin wax though.
I bought metal earwax spoons. Sure, q-tips feel great and all, but pulling the clod of wax actually responsible for the itch is divine
I am way too scared to use one lol. Certainly wouldn't trust myself to use it but maybe I should give one of those services a try.
They’re perfectly safe. Just pinch it towards the end you’re using, can’t do too deep that way.
I do try to be very careful but sometime overdo it a bit going a bit deeper but not to a point of permanent ear damage. Hopefully...
ExtremeUnicorn@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
What do you mean, not safe? I always thought “do not use in your ear canal” was just a joke they wrote on the packaging. Like, actually good one, what else are you gonna do with it?
TeddE@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Q-tips aren’t meant to go in the ear the same way adult novelty toys aren’t meant to go in the butt.
Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
They are called novelty toys because the countries they are made in have laws against adult toys but not novelty items.
TeddE@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
That’s my point - Q-tips and novelty toys are both more commonly used for their off-label functionality because listing that on the label is inconvenient for the maker.
pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Yo don’t actually put those in your butt, they’re not made of body safe materials and will give you ass cancer. Don’t use TPU, TPE, PVC, or tin-cure silicone in your butt. It’s literally made to absorb stuff and putting carcinogens in it is a bad idea. Look for medical grade or platinum-cure silicone.
And009@lemmynsfw.com 3 weeks ago
Mouthful of words, can I wrap em in condom?
TeddE@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I don’t live in a state that advertises the toys as novelties, but all the toys at my sex shop are body safe. I have to imaging the ‘totally not a sex store’ novelty shop is probably also seeking the same suppliers, just different packaging
blindsight@beehaw.org 3 weeks ago
They’re also used as cleaning tips for small/targeted applications, especially when you don’t want lint from a Kleenex or paper towel lingering. Makeup application/removal and electronics cleaning, for example.
I think (not a doctor) the ear thing is because if you go too deep you can cause some serious damage, and they can make wax buildup worse by compacting it. If you stay close to the ear opening, and do circular motions to swipe wax away, and clean your ears often enough that you don’t get dense wax build up, and don’t “double dip” to introduce potential pathogens, then I think they’re pretty safe to use? But that’s too many caveats for lots of people, so I think ENTs often deal with people damaging themselves with them.
boonhet@sopuli.xyz 3 weeks ago
Supposedly they can pack the earwax together which can be an issue.
Worx@lemmynsfw.com 3 weeks ago
Makeup removal or cleaning babies, according to the packaging