What you need to know about swimmer's ear, a potentially serious infection

The best part of summer? Cooling off in the water. Whether it’s a pool, lake, or ocean, (or a childhood favorite: running around in the sprinklers) many of us are searching for ways to cool off while still soaking up the summer sun. 

But these summer activities can sometimes come at a mildly irritating cost: yes, of course, sunburn. But also getting water stuck in your ear. Although it’s typically a temporary nuisance, getting water in the ear can lead to an infection sometimes called “swimmer’s ear” or otitis externa. It’s something that may need to be by your doctor to keep it from becoming severe. 

What is swimmer’s ear? 

Dr. Nicholas Deep, an otolaryngologist with the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix says, “Swimmer's ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of your ear canal, the tunnel-like space between your eardrum and opening of your ear.”

What causes swimmer's ear? 

The name was made for good reason. Deep explains, “It's usually caused by water remaining in your ear after swimming, creating a moist environment for bacteria to thrive. Water from potentially contaminated sources like shallow lakes or public pools can increase the risk,” he explains. 

However, Deep emphasizes that it does not only occur in swimmers, and getting water inside the ear is not the only cause. Deep says, “Despite its name, you don't have to be a swimmer to get swimmer's ear. Anything that damages the sensitive skin of the ear canal, such as cotton swabs or putting other objects in your ears, can also cause otitis externa.” 

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

Deep says it generally presents with “fullness” or pain in the ear that can sometimes worsen when you tug on the outside of the ear or press on the small bump in front of your ear. 

He also explains that a more severe infection can lead to symptoms like:

• Itchiness
• Ear drainage
• Muffled hearing
• Fever
• Intense, radiating, pain that can spread across your face, neck and head

How do you fix swimmer’s ear? 

Deep says that since swimmer’s ear is caused by a bacterial infection, it should be promptly treated by your physician to avoid complications or severe infection. He explains, “The main treatment involves antibiotic and steroid-containing ear drops. If the ear canal is highly swollen, a doctor might insert an ear wick, a small, sponge-like material that absorbs the ear drops and gradually releases the medicine deeper into the ear canal.” 

The best way to avoid getting swimmer’s ear is to keep your ears dry. Deep says you can use wax coated ear plugs or a swim cap. If your ears do get wet, Deep says you can use a blow dryer on the lowest setting to dry them out. He recommends against using cotton swabs, as they can potentially trigger otitis externa. 

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