How To Care for Swimmer's Ear

By megan McFarland

Swimmer’s ear does not just happen after swimming, although it is generally caused by exposure of the ears to water. This condition is an infection in the ear canal or in the external part of the ear. If you have swimmer’s ear, your ear may ache or become itchy and moist. Others may notice an odd smell near your ear, and you may experience very little earwax. Although it’s an uncomfortable infection, caring for swimmer’s ear is fairly straightforward, and there are several natural remedies. Here’s how to care for swimmer’s ear:

White vinegar. Place just a couple of drops of white vinegar in the ear. Let it sit in the ear canal for about 5 minutes, allowing it to kill the bacteria. Then, tip your head so that the vinegar drains back out. You can also mix a little alcohol with the white vinegar for better infection-killing properties. However, do not put any drops, homemade or over-the-counter, into your ears if you suspect you may have a perforated eardrum.
Dry your ear. Some frequent suffers of swimmer’s ear report that using a hair dryer to evaporate the water in the ear may help. Set it to warm, not hot, and gently wave the hair dryer across your ear. Holding both your nostrils closed and blowing through your nose can help push the water out of the inner part of your ear. Blowing in this manner can also help to alleviate the feeling of pressure that can happen when you have swimmer’s ear.
Use eardrops. Antiseptic eardrops, purchased over the counter at any drugstore, can help relieve symptoms and clear up the infection. It can help to warm the drops slightly before using them. Then drop them into your ear following the instructions, leave them in for a couple of minutes, and tip your head to the side to let the drops drain back out of your ear.
Treat the pain. Tylenol or a similar pain reliever can help your ear feel better. So can a heating pad or warm compress. Use just mild heat on the ear; make sure it isn’t too hot. Although these aren’t adequate for treating the infection, they can make you a lot more comfortable while the infection is still there.
Visit your doctor. Although most cases of swimmer’s ear can be treated at home, visit your doctor if the ear becomes very infected or you are in too much pain. If you have been treating the ear for more than a day or two and it doesn’t seem to be improving, or if you experience dizziness or swollen glands in your deck, visit the doctor.
Take preventive measures. This is particularly important if you are in the water often. Be careful to dry your ears thoroughly after swimming, and consider using ear drops as a preventive measure. Avoid swimming in areas that may be contaminated with bacteria, such as polluted water or swimming pools that have not been well kept. Wear ear plugs to keep the water from going into your ears.