Peroxide & Ear Infections

A 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution is often used to treat external wounds and infections. This is a common medical procedure. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes when it comes into contact with skin and debris. This is the property that allows hydrogen peroxide to be such a strong disinfectant. When treating infections of the ear, there are different issues to take into consideration. The ear and the eardrum are comprised of skin that is sensitive and fragile.

Directions for Use

Use a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution when considering this product for the healing of ear-related infections. One to 2 tsp. in each ear is the proper amount. The solution will need to be held in the ear for 15 to 20 minutes or when the fizzing stops. When used in the proper manner, hydrogen peroxide will rid your ears of parasites and bacterium that do not belong.

Benefits of Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide causes an effervescence reaction which removes debris and tissues from areas that you normally would not be able to reach. Peroxide does not have a high penetration rate and only cleans locally. This solution is used to clean inside and outside the ear canal.

Sometimes people get foreign bodies trapped in the ears. This problem can be a wide variety of debris, such as dirt and bugs. Hydrogen peroxide will bubble up and remove this from the ear canal, preventing infection.

Hydrogen peroxide is also an efficient way to remove earwax. This is important when it comes to treating external ear infections.

When Peroxide is Used

Using hydrogen peroxide will depend on the severity of the ear infection being treated.
If a pustule or boil has developed, a doctor will need to drain the pocketed infection and pus. At this point, it is safe to use hydrogen peroxide to remove dead tissues and debris from the infected site. This is again done by the oxidation properties of the hydrogen peroxide solution.

Inner Ear Infections

There are times when an infection is too close to the eardrum. When this is the case or when a middle ear infection is involved, antibiotics will be needed to cure the infection. It is always wise to consult your physician before beginning peroxide treatment in the ears.

Warning

Hydrogen peroxide should only be used for outer ear infection if the ear drum is not perforated. If the infection is too close to the eardrum, it can cause deafness.

When using hydrogen peroxide to clear wax, it can cause ear drum pain if the ear drum is perforated. If the peroxide enters the mastoid cavity and middle ear, it can cause mastoiditis.