Q & A Library

“Swimmer’s ear” (Otitis externa) is an inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outer ear and ear canal. It develops when water gets trapped in the ear canal and bacteria normally found there begin to multiply. This can happen when you’ve been swimming or as a result of showering or bathing. Symptoms usually are mild to moderate pain and itching, sometimes with a feeling that the ear is blocked or full. In bad cases, fever, drainage or severe pain that may spread to the side of the head, neck and face may occur. You may notice that you also don’t hear as well from the affected ear.

A panel of medical experts issued new national guidelines for treatment of swimmer’s ear in the spring of 2006. They advised that antiseptic or antibiotic ear drops should be the first line of treatment, and that these should often be administered via an ear wick, a small foam or gauze strip inserted into the ear that “wicks” medicine to the infection to provide complete coverage. They also advised doctors to use restraint in prescribing oral antibiotics, which are less effective than ear drops.

The best way to deal with swimmer’s ear is to avoid getting it in the first place. You can keep water out of your ears by using wax or silicone earplugs when swimming. If water does get into your ears, specialists say the safest way to dry them out is with a hair dryer. Be gentle – use the lowest heat and velocity settings, and keep the nozzle well back from the ear.

Try to get in the habit of shaking your head when you get out of the pool to expel trapped water. You can also try soaking up the moisture with clean facial tissue, twisted into a point and inserted into the ear for about 10 seconds.

My personal favorite method, however, is to make up a mixture of equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Keep it in a medicine bottle and squirt a dropper-full in each ear when you get out of the water. Blot up excess with a tissue.

Andrew Weil, M.D.