Health Risks With Paraffin Wax Candles

Paraffin wax has been used in candles and ear candles since the mid-1800s. Since the discovery that burning paraffin candles produces toxic fumes and soot, alternative products such as soy wax and beeswax are used.
Paraffin wax, however, is still used in ear candles to remove ear wax. Dr. Eric Mann, of the Food and Drug Administration, states that ear candles can cause serious injuries and there is no scientific evidence of medical benefit.

Ear Candling

An ear candle is a 10- to 15-inch hollow, cone-shaped tube made of cotton or linen and paraffin. The fabric is soaked in paraffin, shaped and dried.
The candle is designed to seal the ear when the small end is placed into your ear canal. The opposite end is lit and allowed to burn. This creates a vacuum that pulls earwax out of your ear and into the candle. The dark brown and waxy substance remaining in the stub of the candle is reported to be your earwax.

Fire

According to the FDA, fire is one of the risks of ear candling. The risk of clothing, hair and nearby combustible materials catching fire can occur because of the open flame. There are no reports of injury from the smoke of paraffin ear candles.

Burns

The risk of burns to the face and ear can occur from dripping hot wax. In the February 22, 2010 "FDA Patient Alert," the FDA reported that it received complaints of burns, perforated eardrums and blocked ear canals from the use of ear candles.

Ear Damage

The ear canal can become blocked if ear candle wax drips into the ear canal and hardens. The eardrum can become perforated if the hot wax drips onto the surface of the eardrum and burns a hole through it.
In the October 1966 issue of "Laryngoscope," Drs. Seely, Quigley and Langman stated that in a survey of 122 ear, nose and throat physicians, 21 ear injuries from ear candling were reported. Of the 21 injuries, 13 cases were burns of the ear, seven cases of wax blocking the ear canal and one case of eardrum perforation.