Swimmer's Ear

Do you go swimming regularly? Then no doubt you've heard of swimmer's ear. But what exactly is it? How do you recognize this condition? What complaints and symptoms alert you to it? More importantly, what should you do if you suffer from swimmer's ear symptoms? And, can you treat it yourself?

Swimmer's ear is not in itself a serious condition. Nevertheless, it is better not to wait too long to get the right treatment. To do so, of course, you must first know whether you have swimmer's ear.

This blog will teach you what the typical swimmer's ear symptoms and exact causes are. You'll discover what treatments are available and how to prevent this infection in the future.

What is a swimmer's ear?

Swimmer's ear is a common term. But what condition actually lies behind this name? We would like to give you a concrete and clear answer to that.

The scientific name for swimmer's ear is "otitis externa. It is a common bacterial infection that affects the skin of your ear canal. Swimmer's ear is usually caused by excessive exposure to contaminated water. Does this contaminated water remain in the ear canal of your outer ear? Then you are at risk for a bacterial infection.

Avid swimmers regularly suffer from this condition. That is why "otitis externa" is also known as swimmer's ear. Yet stagnant pool water is not the only cause of swimmer's ear. In fact, the skin of the ear canal of your outer ear is particularly susceptible to infection. That's why it's best not to insert foreign objects into it.

Do you often suffer from earwax? Then it is tempting to use cotton swabs and ear sticks to clean your ears. Yet it is better not to use these products. Your ears are self-cleaning. So actually, you don't need to clean them extra with objects at all. Even more so. Overuse of cotton swabs and ear sticks can just cause extra earwax and infections of the outer ear.

How ont state it?

The major culprit of swimmer's ear is water left in your ear canal. This remaining water then causes an infection in the skin of your ear canal.

Swimming and diving are two activities where water is easily left in your ear canal. But in any moist environment, you are at risk for swimmer's ear. Even showering or bathing can always leave some water in your ears.

Swimmer's ear also has a second, slightly less known, cause. The infection is also sometimes caused by foreign objects in your ear canal. So using cotton swabs and ear sticks is not as harmless as you think.

Cracks in your ear canal skin also sometimes cause swimmer's ear. This is because these cracks are attractive prey for bacteria. Bacteria penetrate the damaged skin and then multiply there.

In addition, you should always be alert with jewelry and piercings. Allergic reactions to certain metals can sometimes trigger an infection in your ear canal as well.

Treatment

Do you recognize the symptoms and complaints of swimmer's ear? If so, be sure not to wait too long. Swimmer's ear is not a serious condition if you treat it right away. So see a doctor or healthcare specialist in time. The latter will determine if you actually have swimmer's ear. Is this the case? Then he will prescribe the right treatment methods for you.

There are several treatment methods for swimmer's ear. In most cases, ear drops are sufficient. The medication in the ear drops heals the infection and reduces the swelling of your inflamed ear canal.

Follow the prescriptions of your doctor or healthcare specialist carefully. According to the severity of the infection, apply ear drops into your inflamed ear canal several times a day for several days. Never exceed the recommended dosage. In most cases, the symptoms then disappear after just a few days.

Does the doctor judge that the symptoms are particularly severe? Then he chooses the appropriate medical procedure. For example, the doctor injects your ears, cleans them with a special suction device, or recommends further examination. Swimmer's ear rarely leads to surgical intervention. In some cases, however, treatment does require a short hospital stay.

Medical treatment with ear drops usually takes several days. In the meantime, you can speed up and ease the healing process at home. Painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol relieve pain symptoms.

During your treatment, avoid any irritation of your outer ear and ear canal. Therefore, do not use headphones, earplugs or hearing aids. Keep your ears dry and avoid contact with cosmetic products such as shampoo, hair lotion, shower gel and bath foam. These can further irritate your fragile ear and consequently delay the healing process.

How can you prevent swimmer's ear?

Prevention is better than cure. There are several treatments for swimmer's ear, but you can also prevent swimmer's ear with just a few simple measures.

Prevent water from remaining in your ears. You can preventively custom swim caps wear while swimming. Standard earplugs do not always fit well. Moreover, sometimes the material of these earplugs is not suitable for humid environments. That's why it's better to invest in custom hearing protection.

Custom-made earplugs seal your ear canal perfectly. There is also custom hearing protection for swimming and other water sports activities. The material of these earplugs resists excessive water exposure.

Always be careful with contaminated water. Chlorine keeps pool water free of bacteria, fungi and viruses. In lakes, rivers and seas, you are more likely to find contaminated water. In doubt about the water quality? Then stay out of it.

Every ear canal is different. Possibly you have an ear canal in which water remains more easily. If so, it may help to tilt your head after swimming so the water drains out more quickly.

Always dry your ears thoroughly after contact with water. Carefully drying your ears with a clean towel after swimming, showering or a bath prevents a lot of misery.

Do not insert foreign objects into your ear canal. Don't fiddle with your fingers, hairpins or paper clips in your ears. Better be careful with cotton swabs and ear sticks, too.

How do you know if you have swimmer's ear?

You can recognize a swimmer's ear by the following symptoms:

• Earache. The infection causes the skin of your ear canal to swell. Sometimes this swelling is so severe that the pain makes sleeping difficult;
• A moist ear canal. Sometimes you may also get discharge of ear fluid. This discharge can include earwax, pus and blood;
• Flaking, crusting and/or itching of the skin of your ear canal;
• Reduced hearing. This is because the combination of swelling and ear fluid secretion can clog your ear canal.