Swimming in public waters that are heavily polluted or lounging in hot tubs that aren’t properly disinfected can put you at greater risk of contact with excessive bacteria.īut summertime conditions can take their toll even if you’re not a swimmer. The infection is more common in warm weather when you’re more likely to hit the pool, water park or beach. Freeman.Īdvertising Policy Why summertime leaves you at risk
“The ear canal is dark and warm, so if it gets wet, you have all the ingredients for a Petri dish to grow bacteria,” says Dr. Occasionally, a fungal infection causes the same result.
Hydrogen peroxide ear skin#
What is it about water that causes swimmer’s ear?īacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal begin to multiply in those warm, wet conditions and cause irritation, infection or inflammation. Why water and dampness can cause swimmer’s ear However, they can also trap water in your ears, so be sure to dry your ears well after swimming.
Do wear ear plugs or bathing caps. These can help keep water out of your ears. Do use a hair dryer. You can use a hair dryer to gently and indirectly dry out your ear canal if it gets wet. They can scratch the skin in your ear canal and make conditions worse. Don’t use cotton swabs or tissues to clean or dry your ears. Make sure you use drying drops or your hair dryer to dry the ear canal so that no moisture is left behind. Let it bubble and fizz, and then turn your head to the side and pull back on the top of your ear to allow it to drain properly. Clean your ears occasionally with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to remove earwax that can trap water in your ear. Head and neck specialist Richard Freeman, MD, says the most important way to prevent swimmer’s ear is to keep your ears clean and dry. But the condition is more common when people are in water often. Despite the name, you don’t have to swim regularly to get swimmer’s ear. The infection, which doctors call otitis externa, most commonly occurs when water lingers in your ear canal. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
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