 Here's another Thrive Tip from Kaiser Permanente and Fox 12. If you have ever experienced the throbbing pain of an ear infection, you probably don't need to be reminded of what one feels like. I often think of children when we think of ear infections, but adults can get them as well. The ear canal's skin is incredibly thin, thinner than a piece of paper. You can easily damage your ear canal by inserting a cotton swab, even if the cotton swab is pretty soft. Always teach your kids to not put anything in their ears. We say, leave the ear canal alone. Don't put things in there. So your ear wax is really good for us. Our bodies make it as a way to naturally clean out the ear. It's best to leave it there. If you have a big buildup of wax, see your doctor to get your ears flushed, or you can use over-the-counter removal drops. If you have symptoms of an ear infection or think that complications of an ear infection are developing, she says call your doctor for an evaluation. This has been another Thrive Tip, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente and Fox 12. Visit kptv.com slash thrive for more information.