Wearing dirty headphones for long periods of time increases the risk of infection, acne, and hearing loss.
Many people wear headphones every day but rarely clean them. According to statistics from Senior Living , headphones contain 119,186 CFU (colony forming units). That’s 2,700 times more bacteria than a cutting board and 330 times more than a kitchen counter.
In 2008, Manipal University (India) conducted a study on the growth of bacteria when using headphones, on 50 men, aged 18-25 and divided into two groups. The results showed that wearing headphones regularly increased the number of bacteria in the ear, the most common being staphylococcus.
According to MSc. Dr. Tran Thi Thuy Hang, Head of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, some people also have the habit of leaving their headphones in places like handbags, pockets or desks. These are environments where many bacteria exist, so they quickly stick to the headphones, affecting ear health and hearing quality. Below are the risks of using dirty headphones.
Prevent earwax from being eliminated: The ear has the ability to clean and eliminate itself. Continuously wearing headphones without cleaning contributes to increasing dirt, pushing earwax deeper, leading to blockage.
Headphones harbor a lot of bacteria so they need to be cleaned at least once a day or before use. Photo: Freepik
Acne: Headphones that are not cleaned for a long time can easily lead to a large amount of sweat and moisture accumulation. This is the cause of clogged pores and acne around the ear.
Ear infections: Wearing dirty earbuds creates an opportunity for earwax debris and bacteria to travel back and forth, increasing the risk of bacterial or fungal ear infections.
In addition, earbuds can easily create small tears in the delicate skin of the ear canal, increasing humidity and temperature in the ear canal. This leads to an increased risk of otitis media and otitis externa.
Hearing loss: If the device is not cleaned for a long time, earwax and dirt can block the speaker, forcing the listener to turn up the volume. This condition over time increases other frequencies to higher levels, causing damage to the ear and leading to hearing loss.
Allergy: Using headphones for a long time also creates an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to grow. Using them for a long time can lead to bacterial or fungal infections and cause allergic reactions with symptoms such as itching, redness, and swelling.
Dr. Hang recommends cleaning your headphones every day or before use by dabbing a little alcohol on a tissue or soft cloth and wiping gently. Avoid using wet wipes or chemical cleaners.
When there is too much earwax and dirt accumulated in the headphones, do not use sharp objects such as tweezers or nail files to clean the dirt; instead, you can use a soft brush or cotton swab. Limit the use of strong force because it can easily damage the sound filter, reducing sound quality.
If you wear headphones while playing sports, you should clean them after use. This helps prevent sweat and dirt from sticking, thereby creating favorable conditions for bacteria to grow.
To protect your hearing, do not turn up the volume of your headphones too loud, and limit use all day. Absolutely do not wear headphones while sleeping because it is easy to fall asleep and cause your ears to be blocked for a long time.
Huyen My
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