Hydrogen peroxide on the brain?

Question

My girlfriend pours hydrogen peroxide into her childs ears to clean them. This seems dangerous to me. What are the long term effects from doing this?

Answer 1

A doctor once told me the over use of peroxide in the ear could lead to deterioration of hearing due to the fact it could dissolve the tiny bones that make up the inner ear.

Answer 2

Earwax (the medical term is cerumen) is made by small glands in the ear canal. This sticky substance traps dust and tiny particles and also helps to prevent objects from reaching the eardrum. As the earwax dries, it moves out of the canal naturally, taking debris with it. If earwax accumulates too fast, you can experience diminished hearing and discomfort.

There are several substances that help soften wax that has hardened inside the ear. They should not be used if you have an active ear infection or a perforated eardrum (a hole in the ear) or if you have had surgery on the ear. Commercial eardrops, hydrogen peroxide, baby oil and mineral oil are safe.

Any liquid that you put into a partially blocked ear may get trapped between the wax and eardrum and may temporarily make the blockage worse.

One caution about hydrogen peroxide specifically: Hydrogen peroxide turns into water in the ear after the oxygen bubbles off. This leaves the ear canal moist, which can allow growth of bacteria. By gently rinsing the canal with rubbing alcohol, the water will be displaced and promote drying. If you develop pain, stop immediately; you may have an unrecognized perforated eardrum.

Answer 3

Hydrogen Peroxide is extremely beneficial for all sorts of things, from stopping the pain associated with toothaches and killing the bacteria altogether, to helping dissolve earwax, to killing off colds and flus and a whole host of other things.

Hydrogen Peroxide is simply water with one extra part Oxygen (H202). The second part Oxygen is what does all the work. It bubbles up when it attacks bacteria and eventually desolves so that all that is left is a little H20 (water). Bacteria hates oxygen, and that's why Hydrogen Peroxide is so effective.

Your girlfriend is doing the right thing in my view. By her using it in their ears, they will also be far less likely to catch infections also. It boosts the immune system primarily because bacteria hates to be anywhere near Hydrogen Peroxide.

Answer 4

I dont think that pouring hydrogen peroxide on the ears is dangerous. It is a weird practice though. but its probably better than cotton swabs.

Answer 5

over time it drys to nothing it is a lot better then water or swab like said in another answer I do not see any problem as long as it does not go pass the ear drum then it might cause temperary pain