Swimmer's Ear

Anyone who spends a great deal of time in the water knows the dangers of swimmer's ear. Mild to begin with but severe if they continue, its effects can make a person miserable.
Although not a serious condition in the long run, swimmer's ear should be dealt with as quickly as possible. Treatment will help clear up the infection and solve the root of the problem.

In this article

• What is swimmer's ear?
• Swimmer's ear causes
• Swimmer's ear treatment
• Swimmer's ear prevention
• FAQ

What is swimmer's ear?

Swimmer's ear causes

As mentioned above, swimmer's ear is usually bought on by water trapped in the ear canal developing into an infection. This can happen wherever water is present, whether you've been swimming or diving, taken a shower or bath, or if you just happen to be out in humid conditions.

At the same time, swimmer's ear can be caused by foreign objects entering the ear canal - such as cotton swabs - scratches in the ear canal skin that let bacteria enter and grow, or allergic reactions to items of jewellery.

Swimmer's ear treatment

With a confirmed diagnosis of swimmer's ear, a doctor or hearing health professional will recommend treatment options appropriate for your case. These include:

• Ear drops: Because they contain medication that will not only help clear up infection but also reduce swelling, drops tend to be the go-to for medical professionals when it comes to treating swimmer’s ear. Apply a few times a day for several days and be sure to finish the bottle, even if your symptoms have already abated.
• Medical procedures: If symptoms are particularly severe, a doctor may need to clean out your ears or do some further exploration in the ear itself before recommending effective treatment. Surgery is not usually required, but a stay in hospital might be needed.
• At-home solutions: While you’re waiting for ear drops or the results of medical intervention to take effect, paracetamol or ibuprofen will help provide pain relief for swimmer's ear. You should also steer clear of earphones or hearing aids while you’re recovering and keep your ears dry. Also, during this time, limit your use of shampoo and anything else that may irritate the outer ear.

Remember, if symptoms persist despite using any of the above remedies, talk to your GP about putting together a more robust treatment plan.

Swimmer's ear prevention

Preventing swimmer's ear means taking several steps to ensure water does not get trapped inside your ear. This may involve:

• Wearing ear plugs while swimming
• Not entering water with uncertain cleanliness, e.g. rivers or lakes
• Tipping your head to the side after swimming to clear any excess water
• Drying outside your ears after every bath, shower and swimming session
• Never removing earwax with cotton buds, fingers, hairpins, etc.
• Using drops after swimming, such as AquaEar, dries up moisture in the ear canal and reduce the risk of bacteria growth in the ear canal.

By following these simple guidelines, you can be confident that you're doing everything you can to avoid developing swimmer’s ear and its debilitating effects.