Whether it’s a podcast while traveling, music in the office or a phone call on the road: many people wear headphones or earbuds for hours every day. Health advice usually focuses on volume, but there is more than just loud music playing.
For example, the World Health Organization recommends keeping the volume below 60 percent of your device’s maximum to prevent hearing damage. But while we are mainly concerned about noise, a lot of things are also happening in the ear canal itself.
A look inside the ear
To understand what headphones do, it helps to first look at how the ear works. Over-ear headphones cover the pinna, the elastic cartilage on the outside of the ear that absorbs sound waves. In-ear earplugs – just like hearing aids – are located directly at the entrance to the ear canal, in the so-called concha.
Sound travels through the S-shaped ear canal, a few centimeters long, to the eardrum. The ear canal is not a passive tube: it produces earwax and natural oils that protect and hydrate the skin. Small hairs also help to retain dirt and other particles.
Earwax is essentially the ear’s self-cleaning system. It catches dust, bacteria and dead skin cells and slowly transports them out. We usually only notice earwax when too much of it has built up.
This can happen, for example, when earplugs block the exit from the ear canal. Sometimes it can even clog the mesh of earbuds. However, doctors warn against removing earwax from the ear yourself with cotton swabs or other objects. If you have complaints, it is better to ask a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Bacteria in balance
A healthy ear contains various microorganisms: mainly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses. Together they form a kind of ecosystem. By competing with each other for space and nutrients, they prevent harmful pathogens from easily gaining the upper hand.
Wearing earplugs or other devices in the ear for a long time can disrupt this balance. A 2024 study compared the bacterial composition in the ear canals of people with and without hearing aids. The variety of bacteria appeared to be smaller in hearing aid users – whose ear canal is often closed for a long time.
Another study from 2025 looked specifically at headphones and earbuds. It showed that their use is associated with a greater risk of ear infections, especially when people share them with others.
This has several causes. Devices in the ear make the ear canal warmer and more moist. Sweat can also become trapped during exercise. Such a warm, moist environment is ideal for bacteria and fungi, which can cause infections or discharge.
In addition, earplugs can disrupt the natural self-cleaning of the ear because earwax cannot move out as well.
What can you do?
Quitting headphones completely is not realistic for most people. Experts do recommend giving your ears regular rest so that the ear canal can ‘breathe’.
Hygiene is just as important. Clean earplugs regularly, for example with a cloth or a soft toothbrush with slightly soapy water and let them dry thoroughly before using them again. Don’t forget the storage box.
Avoid using earplugs when you are ill or have an ear infection, because heat and moisture can delay recovery. And do you notice itching, redness or discharge from the ear? Then it is wise to temporarily stop using in-ear devices and seek medical advice.
