A new wave of health misinformation on social media has sparked concern among medical professionals, after a viral Instagram video promoted an unsafe method of earwax removal using oil-coated Q-tips.
The clip, shared by hygiene influencer Madame Sweat, claims to offer a “safe workaround” for those who continue to use cotton swabs despite longstanding medical warnings.
In her video, she acknowledges that inserting objects into the ear is discouraged but tells viewers to lightly coat a cotton swab with oil — even simple olive oil — to “grab the wax” more effectively and avoid pushing it deeper.
ENT specialists say this is precisely the kind of misleading advice that spreads quickly online and leads to rising cases of preventable injury.
Dr Sumit Kumar Gaur, senior consultant ENT at Apollo Hospital, told The Indian Express that the suggestion is “a dangerous misconception amplified by social media.”
He explained that cotton swabs — oily or not — should never be inserted into the ear canal, as they disrupt the ear’s natural self-cleaning process.
The skin of the canal slowly migrates outward like a conveyor belt, carrying wax along with it. When someone inserts a swab, it acts like a ramrod, forcing most of the wax deeper into the sensitive bony part of the canal and dangerously close to the eardrum, increasing the risk of impaction, hearing loss, tinnitus, pain, and dizziness.
Dr Gaur also pointed out that adding oil does nothing to reduce these risks, because the danger is not friction but the mechanical pressure applied by the swab.
While ear drops alone — without any swab — are a recognised way to soften hardened wax, combining oil with a cotton swab is considered unsafe and based on a misunderstanding of ear anatomy. He describes it as a classic example of how “health hacks” on social media often mix a useful element with a harmful method, creating misleading advice that appears trustworthy but puts users at risk.
As misinformation spreads faster than medically accurate guidance, doctors have been urging people to avoid such shortcuts and instead rely on evidence-based approaches.
Over-the-counter wax-softening drops can be used safely at home, and if symptoms persist, professional removal methods like micro-suction, manual extraction with specialised tools, or carefully controlled irrigation should be performed by trained clinicians.
Specialists reiterate that the ear is designed to clean itself — and no viral hack can replace the safety of proper medical care.