Your inner ear canal is protected with tiny hair follicles and ear wax that keep bacteria away by creating an acidic environment. In the case of swimmer’s ears, bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus enter your ear canal and infect it. This causes inflammation, disruption in the pH levels, and loss of ear wax in your ear canal. People often get confused between a regular ear infection and swimmer’s ear. A regular ear infection is caused due to an infection in the middle ear (otitis media) (2). Whereas, swimmer’s ear is caused due to an infection in the external auditory canal (1). Swimmer’s ear is mostly caused by waterlogging, however, there are few other factors that can cause this infection. Let us understand some of the other causes and symptoms in the next section.
Causes And Symptoms Of Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear can affect anyone, research suggests that children between the age of 7-14 years are more likely to be affected. Also, nearly 10% of the population will be affected by this infection. If you are one among the 10%, here are a few reasons why you may get this infection (1):
Humidity Trauma to the auditory canal by external devices like cotton swabs, earplugs, and hearing aids Skin diseases like eczema and psoriasis Narrow external ear canals Foreign objects obstructing your ear canal Stress Cancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy If you are immunocompromised
Symptoms Of Swimmer’s Ear
Some of the common symptoms of swimmer’s ear are (3):
Itching in the ear Severe earache Temporary loss of hearing Redness Discharge of foul-smelling fluid from the ear
If you notice any of these symptoms, there is no need to be alarmed. You can try a few simple home remedies for swimmer’s ear that may help resolve the problem or alleviate a few of the symptoms.
Home Remedies For Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is generally treatable at home and can be quickly resolved with appropriate treatment. The longer you leave it untreated, the greater are the chances of increasing the severity of the infection. Here are a few remedies for swimmer’s ear treatment.
Drain As Much Water As Possible
The first and the most important thing to do is remove water that is logged in your ears. There are many ways to do this.
You can try jiggling your earlobes while tilting your head downwards. Another technique is to lie down sideways for a few minutes with a towel under your ear to absorb the water when it drains. Try creating a vacuum by cupping your ears with your palms and rapidly shaking your head up and down and side to side
Keep Your Ears Dry
You can keep your ear canals dry to an extent by purchasing swimmers earplugs that help prevent water from entering your ears. These come in different shapes and sizes. Make sure you invest in slightly expensive earplugs as they are reliable and offer better protection than the cheaper ones.
Try Rubbing Alcohol And Vinegar
You can combine rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) and vinegar to make homemade ear drops as a remedy for swimmer’s ear. Research suggests that this combination is effective in treating bacterial ear infections (4). To prepare these drops you will need to do the following.
Mix equal amounts of isopropyl alcohol with equal parts of vinegar. Use a pipet or dropper to apply 2-3 drops inside your ear. Gently rub the outside and the back of your ears. Wait for 30-45 seconds and tilt your head sideways to drain the drops.
Try Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Using hydrogen peroxide drops for swimmer’s ear can help clear any debris and excess earwax that might be trapping the water. Studies suggest that topical application of hydrogen peroxide solution can help soften ear wax and any crust formation inside the ear canal (5). If you are worried whether hydrogen peroxide is safe for ears, fret not. Hydrogen peroxide drops in the form of oxydol are generally prescribed by doctors for ear infections in infants (6). Avoid using hydrogen peroxide solution if any of these conditions apply to you:
You have cuts or other physical injuries in your ears Your ear is swollen or bleeding Your eardrum is ruptured
Use A Warm Compress
Heat may help relieve the pain and inflammation associated with a swimmer’s ear. Dip a washcloth in warm water and place it on the infected ear. You can also cover a hot water bottle with a cloth and hold it over the infected ear for a few minutes. Repeat this several times during the day until you experience relief.
Try Using Garlic And Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Research suggests that garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil can be used as an alternative treatment for ear infections. This oil contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can help reduce infection (7). You can buy this oil from a supermarket or online retailer. To use this technique, here is what you need to do.
Try OTC Medication
There are plenty of OTC medicines that are available for ear infections and earache. Most of these are alcohol-based and can help remove the water or excess wax. However, consult with your doctor before you self-medicate. If you don’t notice a change in the symptom after trying these home remedies or if the symptoms worsen, you need to seek medical help.
When To See A Doctor
In some cases of swimmer’s ear when the infection is very severe, you will need to seek medical advice. The doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and examine your ear canal with an otoscope. Based on the severity of the infection, medication and further treatment will be prescribed. In case your eardrum has ruptured due to the infection or by inserting foreign objects to remove the water, you will be referred to an ENT specialist. This specialist will further examine your condition and prescribe the next course of treatment. If your condition doesn’t respond to treatment, your doctor will collect a sample of the fluid, debris, or ear wax for analysis. This will help identify the bacteria that is causing the infection and appropriate antibiotics can then l be prescribed to treat it.
In conclusion, swimmers’ ear is a bacterial infection generally caused due to waterlogging in your auditory ear canal. There are a few swimmers’ ear remedies like using rubbing alcohol and vinegar or garlic-infused extra virgin olive that may help remove water and prevent infection. You can also try some OTC ear drops, however, you need to check with your doctor before self-medicating. If your symptoms don’t reduce after trying home remedies, you may need to seek medical help. Why is swimmer’s ear so painful? Swimmer’s ears can get extremely painful as the bacteria proliferate in the ear canal and cause inflammation. Any external pressure on the infected site, such as tugging or pulling can often worsen the pain. What happens if swimmer’s ear goes untreated? An untreated swimmer’s ear may go away on its own in some cases. However, in case of severe infections, complications such as hearing loss (often reversible) and even brain damage may occur. Does ibuprofen help with swimmer’s ear? Yes, ibuprofen may help relieve the inflammation and pain associated with swimmer’s ear.
