Doctors have revealed new guidelines for ear hygiene, warning people not to overclean their ears. Apart from Q-tips and cotton buds, many people stick hairpins, pens, and pencils and even jewelry to remove earwax or scratch an itchy ear.

Earwax is medically known as cerumen impaction. This week, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery published a new guide to cleaning and treating ears. The guide warns against overcleaning the ears since it can irritate the ear canal, cause infections, and can even increase earwax inside your ears.

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Small objects such as cotton swabs, hair pins, toothpicks, and the like can cause serious damage to the ear canal. These can cause cuts and even a ruptured eardrum, dislocating tiny bones inside the ear. If this happens, this injury can cause hearing loss, ringing in the ears and dizziness.

New age health fads such as "ear candling" provides no evidence of cancer prevention, according to these new guidelines. Candling is not also proven to remove impacted earwax and can also cause serious damage to the ear canal and eardrum.

When it comes to home remedies for earwax impaction treatment, it's also best to ask your doctor first and that you also do not have any prior ear conditions or infections before proceeding with DIY remedies.

However, when you feel any ear pain, drainage, bleeding or even hearing changes, it is best to seek medical attention. Any odor coming from the ear should also be brought with a doctor.

Most importantly, if there are any symptoms of hearing loss and ear fullness, it is highly recommended to consult with your doctor immediately.

According to Dr. Seth Schwartz, who is the chairman of the group behind the updated guidelines, this latest guide present the best practices for dealing with earwax problems, and earwax is a good thing.

 Schwartz explains that earwax is naturally occurring and it protects the ear canal. Ears do not need any additional cleaning unless earwax is causing symptoms.

He added that it is the body's way to keep dirt and dust and other debris from entering deep inside the ear and also acts as a moisturizer for the ear canal.

Schwartz explained old wax could naturally disappear inside the ear over time due to bathing, however, a partial blockage can sometimes happen, and this is considered normal. He said if there is wax build up and safe home remedies do not work, a visit to a health care provider is required.