Wave the dryer slowly back and forth. Don't hold it still. Your health care provider may recommend drops to help dry your ears. Key points It is a redness or swelling inflammation , irritation, or infection of the outer ear canal. When water stays in the ear canal, germs can grow. This causes an infection. It is a painful condition that often affects children, and swimmers of all ages. With proper treatment, it often clears up in 7 to 10 days. Next steps Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider: Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered. Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you. At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed, and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are. Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean. Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure. If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions. There are multiple types of these ear drops that are effective. Pain medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen are very helpful with the discomfort. Using ear plugs can help prevent moisture in the outer ear canal.
The ear also creates natural barriers to infection, such as ear wax, and patients should avoid removing this with cotton swabs. This includes both pools and lakes, especially depending on how well the pool is maintained.
A middle ear infection is very common, especially in children. Those with middle ear infections may also have a history of these infections and may have ear tubes or other prior surgeries, and usually have more hearing loss. Ideally, we recommend you avoid swimming or getting any other moisture in the ear until the symptoms have subsided. In routine cases, this is likely not an issue but it can possibly lead to reinfection or more difficulty with the treatment.
Ohio State offers the most advanced, comprehensive ENT care in the region. Learn more. What's an acoustic neuroma and how is it treated? Should I trim my nose hair?
Get tips from Ohio State experts right to your inbox. Email address. First name. Last name. Date of birth. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for ear pain. If they don't help, let your doctor know. You'll only need pain medicine for a day or two — until the ear drops and antibiotics begin to work. To protect your ear while it heals, your doctor will probably tell you to keep your ears dry for several days or weeks — even while showering or shampooing!
This can be tough, but your doctor can give you suggestions on how to do this, such as using a cotton ball covered in petroleum jelly as an earplug. You may be able to prevent swimmer's ear by using over-the-counter acetic acid drops after you've finished swimming for the day. But don't use these drops if you have ear tubes or a hole in your eardrum. Dry your ears well with a clean towel after swimming, bathing, or showering. You also can use a hair dryer on the cool setting to dry the inside of the ears.
Keep all objects out of your ear canals — including cotton swabs — unless your doctor has told you it's OK to use them. Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Swimmer's Ear? What Causes Swimmer's Ear?
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