Don’t let Swimmer’s Ear Ruin the Summer
What is swimmer’s ear and how can you prevent it?
Summer is here, which means sunshine and pool parties! With everyone enjoying water activities, we also see a rise in swimmer’s ear in the summer months. Swimmer's ear, also called otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear canal. It’s called swimmer’s ear because it often happens when water stays in your ear after swimming.
When water gets trapped in your ear, it creates a warm and moist environment that is perfect for bacteria to grow. These bacteria can cause an infection. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include ear pain, itching, redness, and even colored drainage from your ear. Your ear might feel full or blocked, and it can affect your hearing. It can be painful to open and close your jaw as well.
To avoid getting swimmer’s ear, here are some simple tips. Always dry your ears well after swimming. You can tilt your head to each side and gently pull your earlobe to help water come out. You can also use a towel to dry the outer part of your ear. Over-the-counter ear drops or rubbing alcohol can be used to help dry out any remaining water, or you can make your own ear drops with a mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half vinegar. Never use cotton swabs/Q-tips to clean your ears. This can push dirt and bacteria deeper into your ear and cause an infection. If you are susceptible to recurrent swimmer’s ear, you may want to wear ear plugs when swimming to prevent water from getting in your ears.
If you do get swimmer’s ear, don’t worry. It can typically be treated easily with prescription ear drops. These drops usually contain antibiotics to kill the bacteria and sometimes steroids to reduce swelling. Sometimes the drainage in the ear needs to be suctioned by an ENT doctor so that the drops can better contact the ear canal. In severe cases in which the ear canal is very swollen, a wick can be placed to help the drops reach the deepest part of the ear canal. Patients will usually feel better after a week of treatment, but if symptoms are not improving it is important to have close follow up with your doctor. People with diabetes or other health conditions that weaken the immune system are at higher risk for complications and should see a doctor at the first sign of infection.
If you have ear tubes or a perforation of your ear drum, you should never put anything in your ear without checking with your doctor. When in doubt, have a doctor look in your ear to assess your ear drum. If you have a ruptured ear drum, using rubbing alcohol or vinegar in your ear will be extremely painful. Sudden pain after swimming is not always swimmer’s ear, so it is best to see a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
Remember, keeping your ears dry is the best way to prevent swimmer’s ear. Enjoy the summer and happy swimming!