Yasmeen Irshad on Instagram: "Every day in my practice, I treat patients with ear pain and temporary hearing loss caused by cotton swabs. I know that feeling of wanting a clean ear, but here is the essential medical truth: Your ear canal is designed to be self-cleaning. When you insert a swab, you're not pulling wax out; you're often plunging the protective wax deep against the eardrum. This causes impacted wax, which can lead to: •Worsening hearing loss. •Painful ear infections. •The risk of a