Doctors: if you're concerned about earwax, put the Q-Tip down

The doctors' advice hasn't changed much: Updated clinical guidelines published Tuesday in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery say they're not appropriate for earwax removal. Seth R. Schwartz, M.D., chair of the update team. “They think they’re preventing earwax from building up by cleaning out their ears with cotton swabs and other unimaginable things.” Wrong. Earwax actually helps keep your ears clean by trapping dust and dirt. If left alone, new wax will usually push out old wax.