Swimmer’s Ear Treatments
Natural Treatments for Swim-Ear
Natural Treatments for Swimmer’s Ear
If you’re a swimmer, you likely know the annoyance and pain of swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by bacteria or fungus. This infection typically occurs due to periodic, frequent, or prolonged exposure to water within the ear, which is why swimmers tend to suffer from it more than others. However, because it occurs due to moisture within the ear, even those who don’t swim can develop swimmer’s ear. In fact, swimmer’s ear can even develop due to frequent showering or use of hearing aids. Prolonged or frequent use of headphones or ear buds can also cause the outer ear canal to become infected. The good news about swimmer’s ear is that it can be prevented and it can even be treated naturally once it occurs. If you’re prone to swimmer’s ear, it’s helpful to know ways of treating it naturally. Following is more information about swimmer’s ear, including natural swimmer’s ear treatments you can perform at home.
Olive Oil
Blow Dryer
Ear Candling
What is swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal, the part of the ear’s structure which runs from the eardrum to the outside of the head. Swimmer’s ear can be caused by fungus, but is most often caused by bacteria that grow in the ear canal due to continued exposure to water. It’s that prolonged exposure that creates moisture within the outer ear canal, creating a prime breeding ground for bacteria to grow. The symptoms of swimmer’s ear can be mild, including slight discomfort, drainage of clear fluid, and slight redness and itching inside the ear canal. Moderate symptoms include discharge of pus, more pronounced itching and/or redness inside the ear, excessive drainage of fluid, increasing discomfort and pain, and even decreased hearing and a feeling of blockage within the ear. Severe symptoms may include swelling of the outer ear, severe pain that may radiate to the face or neck, complete blockage of the ear canal, severe redness within the ear, and even fever or swelling of lymph nodes of the neck. It is vital to have any type of swimmer’s ear infection treated before symptoms become severe because permanent loss of hearing can occur.
How to treat swimmer’s ear naturally
Because a swimmer’s ear infection can be quite painful, many people prefer using natural treatments they can perform at home in order to alleviate their symptoms. Because swimmer’s ear is an infection, there are a number of natural treatments that can be beneficial in helping to mitigate pain and other symptoms such as itching, redness, blockage, and fever. First, it’s important to note that most healthcare professionals strongly recommend against using cotton swabs and other objects inside the ear canal to alleviate swimmer’s ear. These objects are not made to go into the ear canal, and they likely will make your infection and your symptoms worse. Instead, try one of these natural treatments for your swimmer’s ear:
Heating pad
A heating pad or hot compress can be a very effective home remedy for alleviating the symptoms of swimmer's ear. Hold a heating pad or hot compress against the affected ear. This will aid in causing that excess moisture to evaporate. It can also help to relieve the pain you’re experiencing, as well as other symptoms such as itchiness and redness. In most cases, once the symptoms are alleviated, the infection and fever have also been treated.
Extra virgin olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil has many uses, and alleviating the pain and other symptoms of ear infections is just one of them. For centuries, people have been using olive oil to effectively treat infections of the outer ear canal. If this is your chosen method of treatment, start by warming a few drops of extra virgin olive oil. Place that warm olive oil inside the affected ear canal and cover your ear with a cotton ball in order to keep it from draining out. Keep it in for 20 to 30 minutes.
Baby oil
If you don’t have extra virgin olive oil, baby oil can also work to reduce or even eliminate your swimmer's ear. As with the olive oil, warm a few drops of baby oil, place it into your ear, and then hold it all in place with a cotton ball. Again, keep the oil in your ear for 20 to 30 minutes. Using baby oil can also be used to prevent swimmer’s ear, which can be beneficial to those whose ears see a lot of moisture, such as those who swim or use a hearing aid regularly.
Garlic oil
Garlic oil is a known inflammation reducer. Use garlic oil in the same way you would olive oil or baby oil. Simply warm the garlic oil, place a few drops into the ear canal, and hold in with a cotton ball. Some people choose to use garlic oil over baby or olive oil because it can also help to boost the immune system.
White vinegar and rubbing alcohol
A mixture of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol can be quite effective for fighting and killing bacteria. Rinse your ears with a cotton ball soaked in equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Hold the cotton ball to your ear and, if necessary, cover with a clean cloth or more cotton balls. This will help to stop the mixture from leaking out of your ear.
Blow dryer
A blow dryer can be a great tool if you’re someone who’s prone to developing swimmer’s ear because it can help to dry out the moisture that causes bacteria to grow. If you’re going to use a blow dryer to dry out your ears, be sure you set it on a low setting that won't burn your ear. Hold the blow dryer about 15 inches away from your ear to dry out excess moisture.
Ear candling
Ear candling, also known as ear coning, is not without its skeptics. While some holistic professionals swear by it, other healthcare professionals believe this practice to be ineffective and perhaps even risky. The procedure is designed to remove excess ear wax as well as toxins, thereby cleansing the sinus cavities of bacteria that are causing swimmer’s ear.
This procedure should be performed by two people. During this procedure, one end of a hollow candle is lighted while the other end of the candle is held in the subject’s ear canal. The subject must lie on his side with the ear to be treated held uppermost. An object such as a paper plate is held between the subject’s ear/face and the candle itself in order to keep the patient from being touched by hot wax. The procedure is designed to create negative pressure which can draw out the wax, thereby removing bacteria causing infection. However, though many proponents of ear candling may swear by it, as mentioned above, many healthcare providers believe this practice to be ineffective at best and dangerous at worst (due to the fire and hot wax).
How to prevent swimmer’s ear
Naturally, the best means of treating swimmer’s ear is to prevent the development of infection in the first place. If you’re someone who swims, is prone to ear or even sinus infections, takes frequent showers, is prone to waxy buildup within the ear canal, or uses headphones or even a hearing aid, it would be most beneficial to follow the checklist below in order to prevent swimmer’s ear before it starts.
ü If you’re showering but don’t want to wash your ear, be sure to wear a shower cap. If you can, it’s also beneficial to wear a shower cap when you swim.
ü After swimming, showering, or even shampooing your hair, try tilting your head to the side and shaking out any water that may be left in your ears. Do this every time you go into the water, not simply after a full day of swimming. Be sure you’ve gotten all of the water drained from your ears in order to keep the moisture out. It's important to do this even before you begin drying your hair with a towel such as after a shower or swimming. Since drying your hair with a towel can sometimes push any moisture inside your ears further into the ear canal, it’s helpful to shake out excess moisture beforehand. If you're already experiencing some blockage due to ear wax, that excess moisture likely will push the ear wax further into your ear. It’s also helpful to dry out your ears with a hair dryer after swimming or showering. This will help to dry out the water without pushing it further into your ear canal.
ü Avoid wearing ear plugs, ear buds, or head phones that can aggravate your ear canals. If you must use any of these products, be sure they are clean and dry before every use, and always dry out your ears after using them.
ü Be careful what you clean your ears with and how you’re cleaning them. Most ear, nose, and throat doctors strongly caution against using cotton swabs or other objects such as bobby pins to clean out ears. Additionally, never dig into the ear canal with anything. Some people even use hair pins or writing utensils to clean out their ears. This is a bad idea because these objects not only can push ear wax further inside the ear canal, but they also can cause breakage and scratching within the ear canal that can permit bacteria to get into the ear canal, which can then lead to an infection.
ü For those who wear hearing aids, be sure to take them out whenever possible. This is important because it helps to give your ears a chance to dry out. Additionally, be sure your hearing aid is clean and dry before you use it.
ü If you’re a swimmer, be mindful of where you swim. Dirty water will have more bacteria, and that means more bacteria are getting inside your ears. Avoid swimming in any body of water that may not be clean, including lakes, ponds, or even pools that are not properly treated and chlorinated. If you're going to swim, be sure to swim in a clean swimming pool where the water is kept clear and free of bacteria. If you do decide to go swimming in a lake, river, or stream, it's important to be extra careful to rinse out your ears after each time you go in (not just simply at the end of the day). Additionally, use a blow dryer to dry out your ears, if possible. This will help to ensure your ears are completely dry.
ü Over-the-counter antiseptic drops aren’t just for after a swimmer’s ear infection has developed. Try using these after each swim in order to help prevent swimmer’s ear from occurring.
Disclaimer
This page is intended for informational purposes only. Prior to attempting any of the Swim-ear treatments discussed on this page you should consult with a medical professional to get an expert pinion.