Swimmer’s Ear Prevention Tips

Ready to dive into the pool this summer? Before the fun ends with a painful case of swimmer’s ear, learn how to prevent it so you can keep enjoying the water.

Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal, usually caused by water lingering in the ear canal. The moist environment becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, leading to redness, swelling and pain.

Early signs that something is amiss are itching, mild discomfort or a feeling of fullness in the ear. As the infection progresses, so do symptoms. They may become more painful, disruptive or severe. Signs that your infection is further along include drainage from the ear canal, muffled hearing or swelling in the area. Pain may increase, especially when the ear is tugged on.

If left untreated, swimmer’s ear can become more serious and may even spread to the surrounding tissues. Antibiotic or antifungal ear drops may be prescribed and the infection should start clearing up within a few days. Still, that’s a few days of symptoms, so prevention is really the best medicine.

To prevent swimmer’s ear, take the following steps:

• After swimming or showering, tilt your head to each side to help water drain out. Gently dry your ears with a towel, but never stick objects like cotton swabs inside your ear.
• To be extra cautious, use over-the-counter drying drops to help evaporate residual water. These are especially useful after swimming in natural bodies of water like lakes or the ocean.
• Wearing a swim cap or ear plugs designed for water sports. Just make sure they fit well and are cleaned regularly.
• If you wear hearing aids or earbuds, make sure your ears are completely dry before inserting them.

You Have Questions: We Have Answers

We invite you to request an appointment with our team so you can begin the journey to a better quality of life. We are trained to help answer such questions as:

• Why is there ringing in my ears?
• Is excessive earwax bad?
• Why can’t I hear very well?
• Why do I keep getting ear infections?
• Do hearing aids really work?
• And many more

More importantly, we can offer treatments for relief.

Our team at Biltmore ENT is ready to help you live a better quality of life. Contact our office today at (602) 956-1250 or click here to request an appointment.