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Don’t Let Swimmer’s Ear Dampen Your Summer Fun

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A cool dip in the water is a refreshing treat on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, for many people the benefits of the refreshing plunge are dampened (literally) by swimmer’s ear. The scientific name for the condition is otitis externa and it is typically caused by moisture in the ear from showers, shampooing or swimming.

With frequent immersion, water swells the cells that line the ear canal. Eventually the cells pull apart far enough for the bacteria that are normally found on the surface of your ear canal to get underneath the skin, where the warm environment promotes bacteria growth. If left untreated, the swelling can spread to the nearby lymph nodes and cause enough pain that moving your jaw becomes uncomfortable.

The symptoms of swimmers’ ear include:

• Itching in the ear
• Feeling of stuffiness or heaviness in the ear
• Sudden or sharp pain in the ear
• A discharge from the ear
• Patches of flaky skin around the opening of the ear
• Muffled hearing
• Noises felt inside the ear, such as a buzzing or humming sound
• Swelling in the ear or lymph nodes in the neck

People with narrow ear canals are especially prone to swimmer’s ear because water can’t drain effectively. Children who suffer from eczema have an increased risk of contracting swimmer’s’ ear.

Most cases of swimmer’s ear can be safely and effectively treated with natural home remedies. Mild swimmer’s’ ear can treated with a few drops of white vinegar placed in both ears. Put a few drops of vinegar in one ear and leave it in the ear canal for about five minutes and then drain. Because this remedy is acidic, it is very effective against fungal or bacterial infections. You can also heat baby oil and place it gently in the ear with a dropper. Put in a cotton ball to keep the oil from draining.

As with most conditions, the best way to deal with swimmers’ ear is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The goal after engaging in water activities is to dry the external ear. This can be done in a variety of ways. It is not advisable to use a cotton-tipped applicator as that can push the water deeper into the ear canal. Using a twisted tissue to dry up the water or using a hair dryer can help remove the moisture from the ear.

There are some devices on the market called “ear dryers” which were designed specifically for this purpose. An ear dryer looks similar to an ear thermometer and it contains a fan that sends warm, soothing air into the ear canal to dry any trapped water. An ear dryer runs on batteries and ideally comes with several ear pieces so that it can be used by multiple people in a family without the risk of spreading germs or bacteria. The best ear dryers are able to closely match your body temperature in order to provide the most comfortable experience.

People who swim frequently, especially divers, put an acidic solution in their ear at the beginning and end of each day. The solution must remain in the ear a full five minutes to be effective. People who are frequently in the water and who have recurrent problems with swimmer’s ear often wear earplugs.

Swimming is an excellent source of exercise because it works many muscles in the body without putting undue strain on the joints. It’s also fun! A few simple steps to protect your ears are all you need to keep your summer plunges healthy and refreshing.