Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsClean and DryAvoid Swimming in Dirty WaterProper Ear Wax HygieneEarplugsTake Care of Your SkinEar DropsAvoid RecurrenceFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Clean and Dry
Avoid Swimming in Dirty Water
Proper Ear Wax Hygiene
Earplugs
Take Care of Your Skin
Ear Drops
Avoid Recurrence
Frequently Asked Questions
Swimmer’s earis anouter ear infectionthat develops when contaminated water sits in the ear for a prolonged period of time.It’s a common infection that can be verypainful, but itcanbe prevented.
Around 10% of people will experience swimmer’s ear at some point during their life, but research shows that appropriate treatment and management are effective and can help avoid potential complications.
This article discusses how to prevent swimmer’s ear. It explains the causes of swimmer’s ear and offers tips for prevention.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
Keep Your Ears Clean and Dry
Thoroughlydry each ear canalafter swimming or bathing. First, tip your head to the side until all of the water runs out of your ear, and repeat on the other side.
If necessary, you can carefully use a hairdryer on the coolest setting to completely dry the ear canal.
Pools and hot tubs with proper disinfectant and pH levels are less likely to contain germs that can cause swimmer’s ear.You can use pool test strips to check for adequate disinfectant and pH levels yourself.
Information on how to safely visit oceans, lakes, and rivers is available through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Maintain Proper Ear Wax Hygiene
Ear wax (also calledcerumen) plays an important role in preventing ear infections. Plus, ear wax repels water. Excessive ear wax can typically be washed away with soap and water in the shower or wiped off with a damp cloth.
You should never insert a Q-tip or any other objects into your ears. This can push wax further into your ear or damage the skin.Also, avoid ear candling or other improper ear cleaning methods, which can damage the ear canal and make it more prone to infection.
Wear Earplugs While Swimming
Wearing earplugs that keep water out of the ears while swimming or bathing can help prevent swimmer’s ear.
Pliable earplugs can be purchased at some healthcare providers' offices or at many stores. Just make sure you get earplugs that fit properly and are intended to keep water out of the ear (versus foam earplugs sold to keep noise out or equalize ear pressure).
How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
The integrity of the skin inside the ear canal plays a big role in preventing swimmer’s ear. Cracked, dry, or otherwise impaired skin is an infection waiting to happen.
You may be more likely to get swimmer’s ear if you have a condition such as eczema, allergies, or seborrhea.
The Dangers of Using Q-Tips for Earwax
Consider Using Ear Drops
There are a few eardropsyou can use to help prevent swimmer’s ear.But, if you suspect you may have aruptured eardrum,do notput anything in your ears and see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
You should also avoid using ear drops if you have syntheticear tubes(also sometimes referred to asmyringotomyorventilation tubes) or if you have hadanyrecent ear surgery.
If you don’t have any of the conditions listed above, the following ear drops may be used.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol evaporates water trapped inside the ear and has antimicrobial properties. Some healthcare providers recommend using a few drops after swimming or bathing to dry out the ear—particularly if you have had ongoing problems with swimmer’s ear.
However, if you do this too often, and the skin inside yourear canalgets chapped, it can increase your chances of getting an infection. Always talk to your healthcare provider before you try this or any other home remedy.
White Vinegar
White vinegar affects the pH inside the ear canal, helping to prevent infections.
Many healthcare providers recommend mixing a solution of half vinegar and half rubbing alcohol and using a few drops in each ear after swimming or bathing.
Olive Oil
A few drops a day lubricatesdry skinand repels water. It has also been claimed that a little bit of olive oil can help people with excessive ear waxnaturally expel cerumen.
Try a drop or two of olive oil in your ears each day to help lubricate the ear canal and nourishdry skin. If you do not have olive oil, any liquid vegetable oil can be used.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is listed on many websites as ahome remedy for swimmer’s ear, however, it should be used with caution.
While hydrogen peroxide does have the ability to kill a wide range of germs, it may also kill your healthy tissue cells as well. For this reason, it has fallen out of favor with many healthcare professionals. When healthcare providers do use hydrogen peroxide, they often recommend diluting it or rinsing it with saline or sterile water about 30 seconds after application.
How to Apply Ear DropsEar dropsare best applied with the help of another person. Lay down on your side so that your ear is facing up. Have them pull your ear slightly out and up to straighten out the ear canal, then put in a few drops. Continue to lay on your side for a few minutes after the drops go in to make sure they are absorbed.
How to Apply Ear Drops
Ear dropsare best applied with the help of another person. Lay down on your side so that your ear is facing up. Have them pull your ear slightly out and up to straighten out the ear canal, then put in a few drops. Continue to lay on your side for a few minutes after the drops go in to make sure they are absorbed.
Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa) Self-Care and Treatment
Complete Treatment to Avoid Recurrence
Swimmer’s ear is often treatedwith antibiotic ear drops or oral antibiotics. The best way to avoid getting another case of swimmer’s ear is to finish your entire course of antibiotics.
Stopping antibiotics too soon can result in drug-resistant superbugs. Your infection might not just come back, but it could be even harder to treat.
Frequently Asked QuestionsSwimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection. Medically known as otitis externa, it develops when contaminated water sits in the ears for a prolonged period of time. It is called swimmer’s ear because it commonly affects people who spend a lot of time in the water.It can, but you might not want to wait it out. While a mild case of swimmer’s ear can clear up on its own, it is still quite painful. Treatment with antibiotic drops and steroid drops will help it resolve it faster.The fastest way to clear up swimmer’s ear is to see your healthcare provider. Your primary care doctor may be able to treat it or may send you to an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat doctor).An otolaryngologist will suction out the affected ear to remove discharge, ear wax, dead skin cells, and other debris—a rather quick and painless process. Once the ear is clear, you should feel some relief.You will likely be prescribed ear drops containing an antibiotic and steroid to use a few times a day. If the infection is more advanced, you may also need oral antibiotics to clear it up.
Swimmer’s ear is an outer ear infection. Medically known as otitis externa, it develops when contaminated water sits in the ears for a prolonged period of time. It is called swimmer’s ear because it commonly affects people who spend a lot of time in the water.
It can, but you might not want to wait it out. While a mild case of swimmer’s ear can clear up on its own, it is still quite painful. Treatment with antibiotic drops and steroid drops will help it resolve it faster.
The fastest way to clear up swimmer’s ear is to see your healthcare provider. Your primary care doctor may be able to treat it or may send you to an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat doctor).An otolaryngologist will suction out the affected ear to remove discharge, ear wax, dead skin cells, and other debris—a rather quick and painless process. Once the ear is clear, you should feel some relief.You will likely be prescribed ear drops containing an antibiotic and steroid to use a few times a day. If the infection is more advanced, you may also need oral antibiotics to clear it up.
The fastest way to clear up swimmer’s ear is to see your healthcare provider. Your primary care doctor may be able to treat it or may send you to an otolaryngologist (an ear, nose, and throat doctor).
An otolaryngologist will suction out the affected ear to remove discharge, ear wax, dead skin cells, and other debris—a rather quick and painless process. Once the ear is clear, you should feel some relief.
You will likely be prescribed ear drops containing an antibiotic and steroid to use a few times a day. If the infection is more advanced, you may also need oral antibiotics to clear it up.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing swimmer’s ear.Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224Allina Health.Simple ways to deter painful swimmer’s ear.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to safely visit oceans, lakes, and rivers.Khan NB, Thaver S, Govender SM.Self-ear cleaning practices and the associated risk of ear injuries and ear-related symptoms in a group of university students.J Public Health Afr. 2017;8(2):555. doi:10.4081/jphia.2017.555American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.AAO-HNSF updated clinical practice guideline: acute otitis external.Cleveland Clinic.Swimmer’s ear (otitis exerna): prevention.Rogers R.Does olive oil prevent earwax build-up? An experimental study.Practice Nursing. 2013;24(4). doi:10.12968/pnur.2013.24.4.191Cleveland Clinic.How to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing swimmer’s ear.Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224Allina Health.Simple ways to deter painful swimmer’s ear.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to safely visit oceans, lakes, and rivers.Khan NB, Thaver S, Govender SM.Self-ear cleaning practices and the associated risk of ear injuries and ear-related symptoms in a group of university students.J Public Health Afr. 2017;8(2):555. doi:10.4081/jphia.2017.555American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.AAO-HNSF updated clinical practice guideline: acute otitis external.Cleveland Clinic.Swimmer’s ear (otitis exerna): prevention.Rogers R.Does olive oil prevent earwax build-up? An experimental study.Practice Nursing. 2013;24(4). doi:10.12968/pnur.2013.24.4.191Cleveland Clinic.How to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing swimmer’s ear.Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224Allina Health.Simple ways to deter painful swimmer’s ear.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to safely visit oceans, lakes, and rivers.Khan NB, Thaver S, Govender SM.Self-ear cleaning practices and the associated risk of ear injuries and ear-related symptoms in a group of university students.J Public Health Afr. 2017;8(2):555. doi:10.4081/jphia.2017.555American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.AAO-HNSF updated clinical practice guideline: acute otitis external.Cleveland Clinic.Swimmer’s ear (otitis exerna): prevention.Rogers R.Does olive oil prevent earwax build-up? An experimental study.Practice Nursing. 2013;24(4). doi:10.12968/pnur.2013.24.4.191Cleveland Clinic.How to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing swimmer’s ear.
Wiegand S, Berner R, Schneider A, Lundershausen E, Dietz A.Otitis externa.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2019;116(13):224–234. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0224
Allina Health.Simple ways to deter painful swimmer’s ear.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to safely visit oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Khan NB, Thaver S, Govender SM.Self-ear cleaning practices and the associated risk of ear injuries and ear-related symptoms in a group of university students.J Public Health Afr. 2017;8(2):555. doi:10.4081/jphia.2017.555
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.AAO-HNSF updated clinical practice guideline: acute otitis external.
Cleveland Clinic.Swimmer’s ear (otitis exerna): prevention.
Rogers R.Does olive oil prevent earwax build-up? An experimental study.Practice Nursing. 2013;24(4). doi:10.12968/pnur.2013.24.4.191
Cleveland Clinic.How to steer clear of swimmer’s ear.
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