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Over-ear headphones cover the entire external ear – the elastic cartilage covered by skin that’s shaped to trap soundwaves. In-ear headphones (as well as hearing aids) are shaped to fit and cover the entrance to the external ear canal, which is called the concha.
Sound vibrations travel through the ear canal – which is S-shaped and a few centimetres long – to reach your ear drum.
Deeper parts of the ear canal produce earwax and oils. These help keep your skin healthy, hydrated and less vulnerable to infection.
Tiny hairs in the ear canal also help regulate temperature and keep foreign debris out. These hairs and earwax help trap and move small particles, shed skin and bacteria out of the ear canal.
Earwax is the ear’s self-cleaning method and we only tend to notice it when there’s too much.
Excessive buildup can block your hearing or even clog the mesh of your earpods. But don’t try to dig earwax out of your ears yourself. If you’re concerned, speak to a pharmacist or GP for advice.
How headphones can affect the ear’s bacteria
Healthy ear canals host a range of non-harmful microbes – mainly bacteria, but fungi and viruses too. They compete for space and nutrients, and this diversity makes it trickier for any potential pathogens (disease-causing microorganisms) to take hold.
But wearing headphones (and other in-ear devices such as hearing aids or ear plugs) may upset the balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria.
One 2024 study compared bacteria in the external ear canals of 50 people who used hearing aids and 80 who didn’t. The researchers found hearing-aid users – whose external ear canals are blocked for extended periods – had fewer types of bacteria than those who didn’t.
Another 2025 study looked at how using headphones (including over-ear, in-ear and on-ear) affected fungi and bacteria in the ear canal. It found using headphones was linked to a greater risk of ear infections, especially if people shared them.
This may because wearing headphones – especially in-ear devices – makes the external ear canal hotter and more humid . Trapped moisture is especially likely if you exercise and sweat while wearing headphones.
Higher humidity increases your risk of ear infection and discharge, including pus.
Wearing in-ear devices such as hearing aids or headphones for extended periods can also interfere with the ear’s natural “self-cleaning” function, aided by earwax.
So, what should I do?
Most of us need – or like – to wear headphones in our day-to-day routines. But for good ear health, it’s important to give your ears a break.
Allow your ear canals to “breathe” at different points throughout the day so they’re not constantly blocked and growing humid and hot.
You could also try bone conduction headphones. These don’t block the ear canal, because they transmit sound through your skull directly into the inner ear, without needing to block the ear canal. These can be expensive though. And while they allow our ears to breathe, high-intensity vibrations (high volume) can still damage hearing, so as with all headphones caution is required.
Other tips
Clean your devices regularly
Recommendations range from once a week to daily to after a physical workout.
For example, you can wipe them with a cloth or use a soft-bristled children’s toothbrush dampened with mildly soapy water. Blot dry with a paper towel and allow a few hours of drying before recharging or reuse.
But it’s best to follow your manufacturer’s guidelines. And don’t forget to clean the case and the body of your earbuds too.
Don’t use headphones when sick
If you have an ear infection , avoid using earphones as they may increase the temperature and humidity in your ear and slow recovery.
If your ears become itchy, red or have discharge, stop using in-ear devices and seek medical advice.
