Ear problems can occur not only in adults, but also in children. Of course, in such a situation, treatment measures must be taken. A compress on the ear may very well help. If everything is planned correctly, pain, discomfort will go away.
The doctor who makes the appointment is an otolaryngologist. There are situations in which it is completely forbidden to perform warming compresses on the ear. These include inflammatory processes with purulent contents. Their warming leads to breakthroughs and abscesses. Everyone should try and approach this issue with all seriousness. In this article, we will examine in detail how you can do a compress on your ear with your own hands.
Types of compresses
The first thing you need to know is which means are optimal for compresses. When there is pain in the ear caused by inflammatory processes, two types of compress are used - dry and wet. Each remedy has its own effect. They are usually divided into alcohol and oil.
It is the alcohol compress on the ear that is used most often. The process itself should be performed in the evening. In order for the compress to bring maximum benefit, it is advisable to put on a hat over it. Such procedures are an addition to the main treatment. Many quite cope with improvised means and at home. You need to know how to apply a compress layer by layer. Note that during treatment it is necessary to beware of drafts as much as possible.
Procedure sequence
Before you make a compress on the ear, the main tool is selected. In addition to him, it is necessary to prepare the following materials:
- Gauze or any other soft tissue. Many use a wide bandage. Any medical products are considered more reliable because they are sterile. A minimum of three layers will be required.
- Polyethylene film or something like that.
- Vata.
In order for the compress in the ear to benefit, it is layered. Most often, after visiting a doctor, patients at home make such a lotion. Do not come up with your own solutions, otherwise you will not be able to get rid of the disease.
First layer fixation
An ear patch is made from any selected fabric (gauze, etc.). Further incisions are made so that the ear itself passes through them. After the gauze is wetted in alcohol or medicinal oil and slightly wrung out so that the material is moist, not wet. The compress is applied to the ear. It remains only to fix it.
A larger fabric is made from polyethylene than the first gauze layer. Then, cuts are performed, an element is applied to the sore part of the body, the auricle is brought out. In this case, it should turn out so that the first layer moistened with alcohol (oil) is hidden under polyethylene. Only in this way will the compress work effectively.
The final stage of the compress on the ear with alcohol
Next, you need to put cotton so that the alcohol does not evaporate quickly and the sick ear warms up. The created medical “construction” needs to be fixed. A bandage is quite suitable, but a healthy ear should not be blocked, otherwise nothing will be heard.
It is always difficult with children, because they are active and it is difficult to keep them warm compress for a long period. Therefore, do not feel sorry for the bandage, but it is better to wrap it in several layers in order to reliably fix the main fabric. Some doctors use a band-aid for fixation, but it is inconvenient to remove it, since it sticks to the hair on the head.
To understand whether there were any violations during treatment, after half an hour or twenty minutes, a finger is carefully inserted under the bandage. It should be dry and warm. In any case (for both adults and children), pure ethyl alcohol is not used because it can burn the skin. It is diluted so that in the tincture it turns out no more than 30 percent. The resulting liquid should not be additionally heated.
The compress is laid carefully so that the composition does not get into the auricle itself. For treatment, it is enough to wear a bandage for no more than 3 hours. Therefore, doing it at night is not always advisable.
After the procedure, it is necessary to remove the alcoholized fabric, but you need to put on a hat and wear it for about one hour, since at this time there is still warming up. Re-applying the compress is acceptable after an hour and a half or more.
What tools are no less effective?
Many have heard more than once that a compress is also made in the ear with vodka. Is it acceptable to perform it at home? Yes, but in stages. For an adult, half a glass is enough, and a child less. This component is not used in its pure form. It must be diluted with water in half, for a child it is better to make more water.
Some parents buy ready-made pads in pharmacies and make a slot of the required size, which helps save time. Vodka should be slightly warmed up, but not too hot so as not to burn the skin. Further, the gasket is wetted, fixed on a sore spot.
Before making a compress in the ear of a child, mom or dad should try to attach a tissue to his body to check the temperature of the liquid and not accidentally burn the baby's skin.
A bandage or scarf is used for fixation, although caps or a scarf may well be enough.
The effect of such a compress will not keep you waiting long. The pain goes away, pleasant warmth is felt. By the time interval, it is enough to hold a compress for 1-2 hours. If the entire procedure is performed without errors, the fabric stays slightly moist and warm all this time.
Any products containing alcohol can slightly burn the skin. This is manifested by slight peeling on the surface. Therefore, after the procedure, the place behind the ear should be rinsed well with water and a thin layer of any nourishing cream should be applied.
Should oil formulations be used?
Compresses with oil give an excellent warming and healing effect. But you need to understand exactly how to apply them. The first is to choose oil. Use vegetable, but camphor is best. The advantage of this composition is a long period of heat preservation, and hence warming up.
Before the procedure, the composition is heated in a water bath, otherwise unacceptable. The temperature of the liquid should not exceed 36 degrees. You can leave such a camphor compress in your ear for 7 hours, so you can carry out the procedure before bedtime and leave the product overnight.
The use of camphor has its advantages:
- The maximum heating period. One procedure per day is enough, periods should be discussed with the attending physician.
- The benefits of the composition.
- Inexpensively.
In oil warming, there is a minus, because the skin is difficult to clean from the composition after the procedure. But there is one caveat - camphor is easily washed with alcohol diluted with water.
Do herbs help?
Many people believe that it is herbal compounds that are of great benefit. For this, the following medicinal plants are used:
For a compress, you need to take three tablespoons of any herb for 200 grams, place the raw materials in a container, pour water and bring to a boil. Insist for 40 minutes, strain before use.
The process of performing a compress on the ear is done according to the standard scheme described above. Honey helps well, it is slightly melted and, accordingly, heated in a water bath. The use of such components has its drawbacks. These include the likelihood of allergic rashes, so you need to be careful.
Duration of the procedure
How long can any of the compresses be used? Most often, this information is given by the doctor, and it is also worth paying attention to the general condition of the patient. When the pain does not rest, the execution period can reach up to four hours. For children, it is enough to keep a compress for three hours.
What should everyone know?
As already noted, the procedure itself is simple, but many make mistakes. Therefore, there are general rules, as well as conditions in which you should not engage in such treatment. It is completely forbidden to do any compresses on the ear if the patient:
- Fever.
- There are scratches at the place of application of the compositions.
- Skin rashes and allergies.
- Headaches and high blood pressure.
- Vascular problems.
Therefore, you should immediately contact a specialist, only after that start treatment. If there is pus in the ear, there is no need to take risks. Because in some situations, ears simply cannot be warmed up.
Another mistake is the use of a cold component. As a result, such a compress will not bring anything useful. The fabric itself should fit tightly to the body, after performing the dressing it is worth checking with your finger if there is a warming effect.
Ear pain occurs for various reasons, it is important not to delay the treatment process and immediately visit a doctor. Only a specialist will give an accurate conclusion and prescribe an adequate treatment.
So, we figured out how to make a compress on the ear. As you can see, this operation is performed in several ways.