Get The Wax Out of Your Ears, But Don't Listen To The Hype About Ear Candling

It’s pretty likely that when a star decides something is the "new-thing-to-do", others will quickly follow suit, and soon a trend is born. Apparently, ear candling is gaining popularity after Jessica Simpson recently shared her first experience with the ear-wax-removal process via Twitter. But please heed warnings from medical experts before you decide to try the latest fad in ear wax removal.

Ear candling, also known as coning, is a process where a lit hollow candle is placed vertically into the outer ear canal. The supposed combination of "suction" and the hot wax created by the candle is supposed to create a "vacuum" to help remove impurities, toxins, and wax from the ear.

Despite Simpson’s "success" with ear candling, clinical studies show that the process does not actually create any "suction" in the ear and is not an effective or safe way to remove ear wax. In fact, physicians warn that there are possible risks to ear candling, including burns and injury to the ear canal or drum. The Food and Drug Administration also issued a report in 2007 that stressed the dangers of ear candling. The advice from medical professional shows that if a celebrity does something, it might be considered "cool", but not necessarily safe.