[Doctors Warn] The Dangers of “Ear Mold,” Which Surges During the Rainy Season… The Truth Behind This “Modern-Day Illness” Caused by Leaving Earbuds In

“Overuse of cotton swabs” is what triggers the problem

〈I listen to music with earbuds for hours every day〉

〈Cleaning my ears with cotton swabs after a shower is part of my daily routine〉

Such seemingly harmless daily habits might be turning your ears into a “breeding ground for mold.” “External auditory canal mycosis,” commonly known as “ear mold,” surges during the hot and humid rainy season. When fungi (mold) multiply inside the ear, they can cause intense itching and pain, and in the worst cases, hearing loss.

Underlying this is a lifestyle habit unique to the modern era: the prolonged use of earbuds. Behind the scenes of teleworking while listening to soothing music, a frightening mechanism is at work—one in which fungi are multiplying inside our ears without us even realizing it.

Ear fungus typically begins with just a slight itch caused by the hot, humid environment inside the ear. Dr. Toshihiko Oba (62), director of Keiyu Ginza Clinic (Chuo Ward, Tokyo), explains the mechanism behind its development as follows (all quotes in “ ” below are from Dr. Oba).

“During the rainy season, it tends to get hot and humid, and we sweat inside our ears as well. There are sweat glands called ‘apocrine glands’ near the entrance of the external auditory canal, and when we sweat, our ears tend to itch.”

Many people unconsciously clean their ears with cotton swabs or similar items in an attempt to relieve the itching. However, excessive use of cotton swabs can actually make the condition worse. The friction from the swabs can scratch the thin skin, causing inflammation, which in turn releases exudate that serves as a nutrient source for the fungus.

In recent years, earbuds have been a major factor in the explosive increase in this type of ear fungus.According to a “Survey on Prolonged Use of Earbuds and Headphones and ‘Ear Moisture’” conducted by NTT Sonority Corporation in June 2023, due to the spread of remote work and other trends following the COVID-19 crisis, approximately 30% (31.2%) of respondents reported that their “earbud usage time has increased.”

In particular, among working-age adults in their 20s to 40s, more than 40% are using them for longer periods, with over 10% (13.2%) reporting an average daily usage time exceeding three hours—indicating a rapid increase in the number of young people and working adults who leave their earbuds in for extended periods.In particular, in-ear earbuds—which have become mainstream in recent years and fit deep into the ear canal—offer excellent noise isolation but completely seal off the ear canal.

Absolutely Not! The Dangers of Incorrect Self-Care and the “Bacterial Turnover Phenomenon”

“Whether on the train or working from home while listening to music, people are wearing earbuds for much longer periods than they used to. Many people even wear them for extended periods during the summer. Earbuds designed for high sound quality are often in-ear types that go deep into the ear canal.

Inserting earbuds deep into the ear increases the seal, but it also makes the outer ear canal more susceptible to injury. Furthermore, the tips are often made of soft foam materials like urethane, which tend to trap moisture inside the ear. While a tighter seal improves sound quality, it also makes the inside of the ear more prone to becoming hot and humid.This creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mold that have entered the ear to multiply explosively.”

The combination of moisture, heat, and the earbuds acting as a “lid” in this small, enclosed space turns the inside of the ear into a mold incubator in the blink of an eye. For modern people who use earbuds daily, ear mold is a “modern-day ailment.”

When your ears itch, you instinctively reach for a cotton swab. Many people probably make this part of their daily routine after a shower. However, Dr. Oba says this is the absolute worst thing you can do.

“The human ear is naturally designed so that you don’t need to remove earwax. This is because earwax itself has a protective function that coats and shields the inside of the ear.

It even has a natural mechanism—like a conveyor belt—that pushes earwax out from the inside to the outside on its own. However, if you use cotton swabs to remove too much earwax, you can damage the outer ear canal and lose this protective coating, making the ear more prone to inflammation. In many countries, it’s generally considered a no-no to insert cotton swabs deep into the ear to remove earwax.

When wounds caused by cotton swabs combine with nutrients, seasonal sweat, and the sealed environment created by earbuds, it triggers a vicious cycle: bacteria and fungi that are naturally present in the ear—and normally harmless—are activated and begin to multiply explosively. As a result, during the rainy season, the number of patients with ear fungus increases by 1.2 to 1.5 times. To prevent this, the best thing to do is simply “not to clean your ears.” ”

Even more alarming is the “bacterial shift phenomenon,” in which the indiscriminate use of antibiotics triggers a worsening of the ear condition. If you use antibiotics prescribed as a general measure by an internist, or continue to use medication you received in the past without proper medical guidance, the balance of bacteria in the ear can be disrupted, potentially making the symptoms worse.

“It usually starts with just outer ear eczema or itching. Using cotton swabs at this stage can cause inflammation and lead to otitis externa. If you then casually use antibiotics just because it hurts, you’ll kill both the ‘good bacteria’ and the ‘bad bacteria’ in the ear, disrupting the natural balance that was originally maintained. This is called the ‘bacterial shift phenomenon.’”

The ear naturally harbors extremely resilient bacteria—including “antibiotic-resistant bacteria”—as well as fungi. However, these are normally kept in check by the balance with other bacteria, preventing them from causing harm.

“What happens if you use antibiotics indiscriminately? The resilient bacteria that survived the medication can be triggered, causing them to run rampant all at once, and the inflammation can become unmanageable. While antibiotics can kill bacteria, they are completely ineffective against fungi.As a result, the exudate produced by the inflammation serves as a nutrient source, creating an ideal breeding ground for fungi.”

He explains that using antibiotics with good intentions can actually trigger the worst-case scenario: “bacteria running rampant” and, furthermore, “massive fungal proliferation.” Dr. Oba sees patients whose conditions have become severe.

Start Today! Ear Care Tips

“If left untreated, you’ll be struck by intense pain and itching, and black or gray, sludge-like clumps of mold will come out almost daily, causing your ear to become blocked. If left untreated, it can lead to a hole in your eardrum and even hearing loss. It’s particularly troublesome when bacteria and mold mix. If you use medication to suppress the mold, the bacteria can become stronger and cause inflammation; conversely, if you try to suppress the bacteria, the mold will proliferate.

Rather than relying on medication, the only option is to carefully remove the sludge-like debris without damaging the external auditory canal, wash the ear thoroughly, and wait for ‘natural healing.’ It takes two to three weeks to fully recover, and some people visit the clinic daily during that time to have their ears washed. It’s really tough.”

So, how can we protect ourselves from this dreaded ear fungus? Dr. Oba shared some specific preventive measures we can start practicing right away.

“First and foremost, the most important thing is ‘not to scratch inside your ear or dig deep with cotton swabs or similar items.’ If you absolutely must clean your ears, limit it to once or twice a month, gently wiping only the inner wall about 1 centimeter inside the opening. Also, when it comes to earbuds, get into the habit of ‘taking them out for 10 minutes after every hour of use.’

During work meetings and similar situations, it’s also effective to switch to headphones, open-ear types that don’t block the ear canal, or bone-conduction headphones. I especially recommend headphones over earbuds during the hot and humid rainy season through summer.”

Maintaining the hygiene of the earbuds themselves is also important.

“Never use someone else’s earbuds. Also, don’t put the right and left earbuds in the wrong ears. This can transfer bacteria and mold. It’s important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to regularly clean and disinfect the ear tips to keep them clean.”

Dr. Oba issues the following warning regarding what to do if you experience discomfort or pain in your ear.

“It is extremely dangerous to have your ears examined by a general practitioner, even if you’re there for a cold or other illness. Accurately examining the inner ear requires a specialized microscope and the technical skill to remove earwax—something general practitioners cannot do. There is no end to cases where antibiotics prescribed by general practitioners trigger a ‘bacterial shift,’ leading to an explosive proliferation of mold.Never self-diagnose ear problems; be sure to consult a specialist in ‘otolaryngology.’”

With the widespread adoption of convenient digital devices, high-quality earbuds that deliver excellent sound have become commonplace. However, hidden within the tips of those earbuds pressed deep into your ears, invisible mold and bacteria lie in wait, biding their time to multiply.

Extra caution is needed during the rainy season, when high temperatures and humidity allow mold to run rampant. Be mindful of “air circulation” inside your ears and use the right knowledge to protect yourself from “ear mold.”