You know that sticky substance that the body produces? on purpose to protect your ears? Here, the earwax. There are those who hate it so much that they spend €2.570 for a headphone-shaped device that sucks it up in 35 seconds. We're talking about OtoSet, the latest creature of SafKan Health: irrigates the ear canal with distilled water, softens the earwax and sucks it out like a mini vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, as the surgeon points out Matthew Trotter al Daily Mail, “Earwax is like a guard: if you fire everyone, thieves come in”. Translated: without it, the risk of infections increases.
Jokes aside, the FDA has given the green light for clinical use. But there's one caveat: OtoSet is currently reserved for professionals. And with that price tag, you have to wonder if some clinics won't want to keep their old cotton swabs.
Water, aspiration and a hefty bill
How exactly does this high-tech earwax aspirator work? You put on the headphones, press a button, and in less than a minute, you're done. The small disposable funnels ensure hygiene, while the water pressure (calibrated, I hope, not to split the eardrum) dissolves the most stubborn deposits.
“It is an effective solution for clinically validated cases,” explains the website SafKan Health. But be careful: “It does not replace a medical visit”.
And here the ear falls (it is appropriate to say). Because if on the one hand OtoSet avoids the risks of do-it-yourself methods, on the other it risks normalizing a dangerous idea: that earwax is a problem to be eliminated at all costs. Spoiler: it is not. It serves to capture dust, bacteria and maintain the pH of the ear. Eliminating it completely is like removing the filters from the air conditioning.
The Earwax Paradox: The More You Fight It, the More It Haunts You
There is a bitter irony in this story: the more technology we use to "clean" the ears, the more cases of earwax plugs increase. It's the fault of cotton buds pushed too deep, aggressive irrigations and now, perhaps, even hyper-technological devices.
SafKan Health is working on a home version of OtoSet, but experts are holding back: “Without a diagnosis, you risk sucking air (and money) uselessly”, comments a Neapolitan ENT specialist who prefers to remain anonymous (but why? I couldn't convince him, sometimes privacy has mysterious needs).
And to think that a little common sense would be enough: earwax manages itself. If it really does form a blockage, it's better to visit a specialist... who will probably use an old-fashioned method: a syringe with warm water. Cost of the visit? Approximately €30. With the savings, you can buy yourself a good pair of headphones. But to listen to music, not to suck your brain.
Conclusion: between technology and old remedies
OtoSet is undoubtedly ingenious, and in specific medical cases it could be useful. But when it comes to earwax, the real innovation would be to educate patience. Because sometimes, the most smart it's letting nature do its thing.
Or at least, until someone invents an app to book earwax that goes on vacation by itself. #UnsolicitedTip.