How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
People who spend a lot of time in the water like swimmers can often develop an infection in the outer ear canal. It is very common for swimmers to find they have this type of bacterial infection. Experts suggest there are over 2 million visits made to health care professionals for swimmer’s ear treatment. Swimmer’s ear is relatively easily treated if it is caught early on. But there are also a few ways it can be prevented in most cases.
Tips to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
There are some things you can do to help prevent water from collecting in the ear canal and leading to a case of swimmer’s ear. Basically, it’s important to keep the ears as dry as you possibly can. This might mean using a bath cap or ear plugs during swimming sessions. Those who spend a lot of time in the swimming pool might even benefit from having custom fitted swim molds to protect their ears. You can also dry your ears completely after you have swum or showered. Something as simple as drying the ears good with a towel can help them dry faster. If you feel like you still have water in your ear, try tilting your head to one side or another while facing downward. This helps move the water out of the ear canal.
Sometimes even after using a towel and moving your head around, the ears may still contain water. It is possible to use a hair dryer to move air through the ears so that they dry out. Just be sure the dryer is on the very lowest setting for heat and speed. Also hold the dryer a few inches away from the side of your head.
Things to Not do to the Ears
It’s important to not put foreign objects into the ear canal. Don’t use cotton-tipped swabs, hair clips, pencils, or even your fingers to reach into the ear. Any of these are likely to damage the skin on the inside of the canal. When this skin lining becomes damaged it can allow skin and germs to get under the skin and cause an infection. You don’t need to remove ear wax from the ear canal. This is there for your protection and it collects to help carry debris out of the ear canal. If you think you have a buildup of ear wax, consult your health care provider for help removing it.
It’s advisable to refrain from using earplugs as they can cause the ear canal to become irritated. If you wear a hearing aid and your ears get wet, take it out as soon as possible to allow the ears to dry out thoroughly. Be careful as a hearing aid can push any wax in deeper into the ear canal.
When to Consult with a Health Care Provider
There are some times when it’s necessary to talk to your personal care physician or other health care provider. You can talk to them about different types of ear drops to use in your ears if you are susceptible to developing swimmer’s ear. There are many pharmaceutical products and home remedies to use as a treatment for water clogged ears. Just ask your health care provider before using any of them. There are times when ear drops can be damaging such as if you have tubes in your ears, a damaged ear drum, or drainage that is coming out of the ear(s). You should also consult with your health care provider if you have drainage coming from an ear or both ears; or if they become swollen, itchy, painful or flaky.
What about using disinfectants?
When you use a public or semi-public pool for swimming, you can ask the pool or hot tub operator how often the pools are checked for pH levels. They should be checked a minimum of two times a day. Swimming pools and hot tubs that have the proper pH levels are far less likely to allow for the spreading of germs. If you have your own pool or hot tub you can purchase test strips and check the levels yourself. The test strip will inform you if the pool or hot tub has adequate pH and disinfectant levels.
Tips to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
There are some things you can do to help prevent water from collecting in the ear canal and leading to a case of swimmer’s ear. Basically, it’s important to keep the ears as dry as you possibly can. This might mean using a bath cap or ear plugs during swimming sessions. Those who spend a lot of time in the swimming pool might even benefit from having custom fitted swim molds to protect their ears. You can also dry your ears completely after you have swum or showered. Something as simple as drying the ears good with a towel can help them dry faster. If you feel like you still have water in your ear, try tilting your head to one side or another while facing downward. This helps move the water out of the ear canal.
Sometimes even after using a towel and moving your head around, the ears may still contain water. It is possible to use a hair dryer to move air through the ears so that they dry out. Just be sure the dryer is on the very lowest setting for heat and speed. Also hold the dryer a few inches away from the side of your head.
Things to Not do to the Ears
It’s important to not put foreign objects into the ear canal. Don’t use cotton-tipped swabs, hair clips, pencils, or even your fingers to reach into the ear. Any of these are likely to damage the skin on the inside of the canal. When this skin lining becomes damaged it can allow skin and germs to get under the skin and cause an infection. You don’t need to remove ear wax from the ear canal. This is there for your protection and it collects to help carry debris out of the ear canal. If you think you have a buildup of ear wax, consult your health care provider for help removing it.
It’s advisable to refrain from using earplugs as they can cause the ear canal to become irritated. If you wear a hearing aid and your ears get wet, take it out as soon as possible to allow the ears to dry out thoroughly. Be careful as a hearing aid can push any wax in deeper into the ear canal.
When to Consult with a Health Care Provider
There are some times when it’s necessary to talk to your personal care physician or other health care provider. You can talk to them about different types of ear drops to use in your ears if you are susceptible to developing swimmer’s ear. There are many pharmaceutical products and home remedies to use as a treatment for water clogged ears. Just ask your health care provider before using any of them. There are times when ear drops can be damaging such as if you have tubes in your ears, a damaged ear drum, or drainage that is coming out of the ear(s). You should also consult with your health care provider if you have drainage coming from an ear or both ears; or if they become swollen, itchy, painful or flaky.
What about using disinfectants?
When you use a public or semi-public pool for swimming, you can ask the pool or hot tub operator how often the pools are checked for pH levels. They should be checked a minimum of two times a day. Swimming pools and hot tubs that have the proper pH levels are far less likely to allow for the spreading of germs. If you have your own pool or hot tub you can purchase test strips and check the levels yourself. The test strip will inform you if the pool or hot tub has adequate pH and disinfectant levels.