More than one out of every ten people in the United States have some degree of hearing loss. When you first learn you have hearing loss, it’s natural to worry about how hearing aids, a standard treatment option, will fit into your daily life. One common worry is how these new devices will change your beauty routine.
Whether your daily beauty routine involves applying sunscreen and lotion or includes a full face of makeup and a stylish hairdo, knowing how to care for your hearing devices during this time is essential. Let’s take a look at a few possible beauty routine danger zones and how you can keep your hearing aids safe.
How Can A Beauty Routine Affect Your Hearing Aids?
Makeup, skincare and haircare products can cause clogging, water damage and poor sound quality. A few tips to prevent hearing aid damage include:
- Practice caution while washing your face. While it’s usually not a big deal if water or soap splashes on your counter or t-shirt when you wash your face, they can cause significant damage to your hearing aids. Always remove your devices and place them in a separate area before you wash your face.
- Avoid product contact. Apply lotions, creams, powders and sprays before inserting your hearing aids to prevent electrical damage from moisture.
- Watch out for wet nail polish. Many people are familiar with the unfortunate phenomenon of smudging nearly dry nail polish after a manicure. When you have hearing aids, you need to pay extra attention to ensure your nails are fully dry before you handle your devices.
- Be careful during haircuts. Hearing aids don’t need to stop you from heading to the I Heart Hair Salon for a quick cut or dye. In fact, they can even improve your experience. By amplifying speech sounds, your new devices will help you understand your stylist for a stress-free experience. Most hairstylists will be familiar with hearing aids. Inform your stylist about your devices beforehand. They might recommend ear covers to protect your devices from hair clippings or removal before washing, dyeing or styling your hair.
What If Your Devices Get Damaged?
Accidents happen. One day, you might forget to take out your devices during your routine. Knowing what to do if your devices get hit with water, loose hair or product can make a huge difference in their longevity. If your devices get wet, wipe them down with a clean, dry towel, remove their batteries and place them in a drying box or jar. If you find other products or gunk on your devices, wipe them down and scrape off any product with a wax pick. If you notice a difference in sound quality or your devices stop working, contact your specialist for a repair.
To learn more about maintaining or repairing your hearing aids, contact ENT Specialists Of Northern Virginia today to schedule an appointment with our specialists.