Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)

Prevention

To help prevent swimmer's ear:

• Keep your ear canal dry. Limit your time exposed to water.

• To keep water out of your ears while showering, use a ball of cotton covered with a layer of petroleum jelly.

• If you get water in your ears, dry them thoroughly. First, turn your head to the side and pull the earlobe in different directions to help the water run out. Gently dry the opening to the ear canal. Then use a hair dryer briefly on its lowest setting held at arm's length to dry the rest of the canal.

• Do not use cotton swabs to clean your ears because they can cause trauma to ear canals, making them more susceptible to infection. In addition, swabs usually push wax deeper into the ear canal, and water can get trapped behind wax buildup.

• Do not use earplugs unless they are designed specifically to keep water out because water gets trapped behind most earplugs. They also tend to push wax back into your ear canal.

• Make your own preventive eardrops by mixing equal parts white vinegar and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol. The vinegar restores the natural acidity of the ear canal, making it less susceptible to infection while the alcohol dries out the ear. Use three to four drops in each ear after swimming.

Treatment

Swimmer's ear usually is treated with prescription eardrops. The most commonly used drops combine medications to fight the infection (polymyxin and neomycin), and calm the inflammation (hydrocortisone). Drops usually are placed in the ear canal three or four times per day for about five days. Follow the instructions on your prescription.

In people who are allergic to neomycin, the use of these drops may cause the ear canal to become red and swell. The reaction may extend to the outer ear and surrounding skin and may be accompanied by blisters. If you get a reaction like this, stop using the eardrops and contact your doctor immediately.

In severe cases of swimmer's ear, swelling may make it difficult for the medicated drops to get down into the ear canal. In these cases, your doctor may place a wick in the ear canal to help the eardrops get deeper into the canal.