Swimmer's Ear

Swimmer’s ear is also called otitis externa, and is an infection of the ear canal; this canal is the passageway between your outer environment and the eardrum. The infection is bacterial or fungal in nature, but is not caused by any specific type of bacteria or fungus. The main factor in causing otitis externa is the presence of water and if you’re a swimmer, your ear is highly susceptible to this condition; it can also be caused by showering, being out in the rain, or other situations in which your ear is exposed to water, however.

Normally, your ear has excellent mechanisms in place for dispelling water. The shape of the ear and the fact that it is actually slightly acidic prevent the buildup of moisture in the ear canal. Sometimes, however, these mechanisms aren’t perfect and moisture accumulates; in other cases, there may be an infection of the middle ear that causes drainage of fluid into the outer ear canal. This moisture can both cause irritation and breakdown of the skin in the canal and can provide a wonderful environment for the growth of bacteria which are already in your ear or on your skin (but that normally don’t cause infection when kept in low numbers).

In other cases, sometimes water is not the main culprit; indeed, essentially anything that irritates and breaks the skin in the ear canal can lead to an infection. Many people with very dry skin conditions or eczema are at an increased risk of developing otitis externa, as are people who scratch their ear canal.

Patients with swimmer’s ear will experience ear pain, which is often severe, that worsens when pulling or pressing on the ear; chewing may also cause pain. Some patients with swimmer’s ear complain of severe itching before the onset of pain. Swelling of the ear canal can cause a sense of fullness, and lymph nodes may get swollen as well. Occasionally, there is ear discharge, which often starts out clear but then progresses to a cloudy, yellowish appearance. Hearing may be affected temporarily.

If you’re a swimmer, ear plugs should be mandatory to block as much water from your ear as possible; if you have a child that is a swimmer, ear plug suitability should be discussed with his or her doctor. Initially, treatment of swimmer’s ear can include a good ear cleaning and the application of drops of things like boric or acetic acid; these mild acid solutions are relatively effective at blocking bacterial growth.

If you do an online search for swimmer’s ear and natural remedies, you’ll find a swimmer’s ear remedy that you can make at home which consists of mixing equal parts vinegar and alcohol to use as eardrops for swimmer’s ear; vinegar and alcohol together will cause the evaporation of any excess water in the ear canal. If the infection is severe, your doctor may need to prescribe antibiotic drops and corticosteroids.