I’m Irene, a Taiwanese pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. If earphones or repeated ear cleaning have left your ears itchy, the small MediQuick E bottle can look like ear drops. It is not. Before buying, let’s check whether you should seek advice, then how the nozzle puts medicine onto a cotton swab rather than into your ear.
Find the 30mL box, then check the medicine category
The full Japanese name is メンソレータム メディクイックE. Look for 30mL, the E at the end of the name and 第②類医薬品: a designated Class 2 OTC medicine. Do not confuse it with MediQuick H scalp products or similarly named MUHI ear products. Cotton swabs are not supplied.
This is a skin medicine labelled for eczema, dermatitis, itching, contact rash, hives, heat rash and insect bites. It is not a wax remover, disinfecting ear wash or treatment for every cause of ear discomfort.
Six active ingredients per 1mL: prednisolone valerate acetate (PVA, an antedrug corticosteroid) 1.5mg; crotamiton 50mg; glycyrrhetinic acid 10mg; allantoin 2mg; isopropyl methylphenol 1.5mg; and l-menthol 35mg. PVA and glycyrrhetinic acid address inflammation, crotamiton and menthol help with itching, allantoin supports damaged skin and isopropyl methylphenol is an antiseptic ingredient. These are ingredient roles, not a promise that all ear problems are suitable for self-treatment. It contains ethanol and menthol; “antedrug” does not mean steroid-free or risk-free.
Before opening: who should not self-treat?
Do not apply it to chickenpox, fungal infections such as athlete’s foot or ringworm, or areas with pus. Do not apply to the eyes, eye area, lips or other mucous membranes. Do not use over a large area of the face or continuously for a long time.
Consult a doctor, pharmacist or registered OTC-medicine salesperson before use if you are under a doctor’s treatment, pregnant or possibly pregnant, have had medicine-related allergy symptoms, have a large affected area, or have severe weeping or erosion.
For skin inside the ear, the leaflet has extra restrictions: children under 10 must not use it, and children under 15 must not use it on their own. If a perforated eardrum is suspected, or you have ear discharge, consult before use. Ear pain, sudden hearing changes or uncertainty about the cause are reasons to get assessed rather than trying an itch medicine. If hearing becomes difficult after use, stop and seek advice with the leaflet.
The leaflet gives about two weeks as a limit to avoid prolonged use inside the ear. This is not permission to keep treating an unimproved problem for two weeks: no improvement after 5–6 days means stop and consult, and possible side effects mean stop immediately.
How to use the special nozzle
Apply an appropriate amount to affected skin several times a day. Never drip directly into the ear. Follow the leaflet in your own box, including these steps.
1. Prepare the bottle away from the ear
Point the container upwards and press the tip with a finger to release the air before use. Work over a table covered with tissue: excess liquid can spill or stain clothing. Do not squeeze the body of the bottle hard.
2. Wet the cotton swab, not the ear
Hold the nozzle perpendicular to the cotton swab and press gently for a few seconds so the tip retracts. A little liquid comes out. Repeat several times to soak the cotton part. The drawing is an original explanatory schematic, not the manufacturer’s illustration. The nozzle goes against the swab, not into the ear, and hard pressure on the container can release too much liquid.
3. Apply gently, then let it dry
Hold the swab just below the cotton, about 1.5cm from its tip, and gently apply to the affected skin without rubbing. Do not insert it deep into the ear. The 1.5cm instruction describes where to hold the swab, not a depth to aim for or a guarantee that inserting that far is safe.
Immediately afterwards, do not use earphones or hearing aids. Wait until the medicine is thoroughly dry before putting them back; the leaflet gives about one hour as a guide. Time alone does not replace checking that it is dry. The alcohol can also damage these devices and other materials.
Avoid ear picking and other irritation. More liquid at once does not improve the effect. As symptoms settle, reduce the frequency rather than turning the lotion into daily preventive ear care. Do not use it on skin without symptoms. For suitable skin around the ear or elsewhere outside the ear canal, the manufacturer permits direct application. Take care not to let the liquid run into the ear. The prohibited-site rules still apply.
When to stop, not just when the bottle is empty
Stop immediately and consult with the leaflet if you develop rash, redness, itching, contact irritation, dryness, irritation, heat or stinging; or if the treated skin develops fungal infection, acne, pus or persistent irritation. Stop and consult if there is no improvement after 5–6 days. Recurrent or hard-to-settle symptoms also warrant medical advice rather than repeatedly restarting treatment.
For external use only. Avoid the eyes; if it gets in them, rinse immediately with water or lukewarm water. Get ophthalmic care if symptoms are severe. Children must use it under an adult’s guidance and supervision, in addition to the stricter age rules for use inside the ear.
My shelf-side check
Before paying, check the full name, 30mL and the medicine-category mark. Before using, check the age, whether there is discharge or a possible eardrum problem, and whether you can follow the cotton-swab procedure without putting liquid deep into the ear. The helpful feature is controlled transfer to the swab, not permission to treat every itch yourself.
Store tightly closed in a cool place away from direct sunlight and children. Keep it in the original container, away from flames, and do not use past expiry. Avoid contact with earphones, hearing aids, glasses, jewellery, watches, bedding, furniture, synthetic fabrics, plastics and leather. It can also affect dyed hair. The manufacturer classifies it as aviation dangerous goods; confirm the applicable carrier’s requirements before sending it by air, rather than assuming a small bottle can be mailed normally.
Official sources
Checked 9 November 2026. Product photograph: Rohto official product information. Use diagrams: original Irene summaries based on the current Japanese leaflet, not official manufacturer translations. This guide does not diagnose ear conditions or replace individual advice.
Rohto MediQuick E product information
