Last Updated on October 31, 2023 by admin
In this article, we’ll provide advice, hacks and tips on the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of swimmer’s ear.
What is swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer ear canal.
- The outer ear canal runs from the eardrum to the outer ear.
The causes of swimmer’s ear
- Swimmer’s ear often occurs when water is left in the ear after swimming, hence its name.
- This can cause the build-up of bacteria which can lead to an infection.
- Competitive swimmers can be more susceptible to developing swimmer’s ear due to the prolonged periods they spend in the water.
Swimmer’s ear symptoms and treatment
Many healthcare professionals categorise a swimmer’s ear as either mild, moderate or advanced, according to stages of the infection’s progression.
Mild swimmer’s ear symptoms
The symptoms of a swimmer’s ear are usually mild at first.
- Mild swimmer’s ear symptoms can include,
- Itching and irritation in the ear canal
- A slight redness inside the ear
- General mild ear discomfort.
- This discomfort can increase when touching the ear.
- There may be some clear and odourless fluid draining from the ear.
Mild swimmer’s ear treatment
Prompt treatment is strongly advised as this can help prevent the condition from becoming worse.
- Swimmers should seek professional medical advice as soon as any symptoms of swimmer’s ear occur.
- Treatment at this stage is usually the application of specially formulated eardrops, creams or oils.
Moderate swimmer’s ear symptoms
These include,
- Increased itching and irritation in the ear canal
- Increased ear pain
- More fluid draining from the ear.
- Increased redness in the inner ear
- The ear canal may start to become partially blocked, due to fluid or swelling.
- This can lead to slight temporary hearing loss.
Moderate swimmer’s ear treatment
The most common treatment for moderate swimmer’s ear is oral antibiotics.
- As with all antibiotics, it’s important that the swimmer finishes the complete course.
Advanced swimmer’s ear symptoms
These include,
- Severe ear pain
- This may start to radiate to the swimmer’s face, neck or the side of the head
- Redness or swelling of the outer ear
- Complete blockage of the ear canal
- A large amount of fluid draining from the ear.
- Swelling in the lymph nodes in their neck
- Fever or high temperature
- Advanced symptoms require urgent medical attention.
Returning to training
Swimmers who continue to swim when their ear is already infected can prolong the condition and make it worse.
- They should keep their ears dry as it will help them heal more quickly.
- Many health care professionals recommend that swimmers stay out of the water for maybe as long as a week or two until the ear has fully recovered.
Related article on returning to swimming training after an illness or injury
We have produced a related article on returning to swimming training after an illness or injury. You can view it by clicking this link: returning to swimming training after an illness or injury
Prevention of swimmer’s ear
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Keeping water out of your ear
There are a number of ways for a swimmer to reduce the amount of water entering their ears. These include,
Earplugs
One of the most effective ways to reduce the amount of water entering a swimmer’s ears is by the use of earplugs.
Earplugs come in two main types
Silicone
One-piece silicone is the most popular type of earplugs.
- They are produced by most of the major swimming equipment manufacturers and come in a variety of shapes and sizes
Putty
Pliable silicone putty earplugs are another popular type of earplugs.
- Some swimmers prefer this type of earplugs as they can be molded and shaped for a more comfortable fit.
Many of our swimmers use and recommend Zoggs Aqua Plugz Ear Plugs. Being made from one-piece silicone they find them comfortable and a good fit for keeping the water out of their ears.
- Ergonomically shaped to fit the outer ear for a comfortable watertight fit
- The set includes one pair of earplugs and a carry case, each earplug is marked with either a R (right) or L (left)
- Handy carry case with two holes on the bottom for ventilation
- Reusable earplugs, simply wash them in clean cold water after every use and store them in case
- Available in adult size or junior size (6-14 years) and made from hypo-allergenic 100 percent silicone.
Earplug maintenance
Swimmers should regularly clean and sterilise their earplugs to avoid the growth of bacteria.
Related article on swimming earplugs for competitive swimmers
We have produced a related article on swimming earplugs for competitive swimmers. You can view it by clicking this link: swimming earplugs for competitive swimmers
Swimming hat/cap
Many swimmers wear tight-fitting silicone swimming hats/caps.
- This can significantly reduce the amount of water entering a swimmer’s ears, especially if used in combination with earplugs
Many of our swimmers use and recommend the Arena Unisex Silicone Swim Cap. It’s made from silicone and they find it comfortable and a quality product.
- Classic fit.
- PVC-free.
- A reinforced edge prevents the cap from slipping.
Ear drops
Ear drops are designed to line a swimmer’s ear canal with a water-repellent coating to help guard against trapped water.
Some of our swimmers use SwimSeal ear drops before they swim, to help protect their ears from trapped water, which could lead to an ear infection (swimmer’s ear).
- Applying 2-3 drops to each ear before swimming, diving, surfing, showering, hairwashing and any water exposure – will protect your ears by preventing harmful trapped water
- The proven safe and effective protection for your ears
- Lining the ear canal with this water-repellent coating prevents water-related discomfort and pain
- Helps to prevent infections such as swimmer’s ear
- No build-up in the ear, and unlike earplugs will not affect hearing or balance- no discomfort
- Contains no alcohol: will not sting, irritate or damage the delicate skin inside the ears-safe for all ages from 6 months
- Each bottle contains at least 100 applications – very cost-effective.
Drying your ear thoroughly
After swimming, swimmers should take care to dry their ears thoroughly.
- On leaving the water, they should tilt their head to one side to allow the water to drain from their ear canal.
- They should repeat this procedure for the other ear.
- If a swimmer has difficulty draining water from their ear using this method, they should try lying down.
- This should be somewhere comfortable, even if it means waiting until they get home.
- The swimmer should lay with the water-filled ear face down until the water has drained from the ear.
- Swimmers should then dry the outer ears with a soft towel.
Microfibre towel
Many of our swimmers use and recommend the Big Jim Microfibre Towel, it’s extra-large and ideal for drying off between training sets and races, without making your regular towel too wet.
- ✔ XL SIZE: Measures 180 x 90 cm. The Big Jim towel is one of the biggest microfibre towels on the market today. Our oversized towel provides full coverage for active men and women of all shapes and sizes. ✔ NOW AVAILABLE in SMALL SIZE 80 x 40cm as a handy small towel for the gym.
- ✔ SUPERIOR ABSORPTION: Made of tight-weave microfibre material that absorbs up to 8x more water than a regular towel. Perfect to dry yourself fast after exercise and activities.
- ✔ LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT: This high-performance towel is incredibly thin (2 mm), so it folds up nice and small. Won’t add bulk or weight to your gym or swim bag, and ideal for holidays and camping.
- ✔ DRIES QUICKLY: No more heavy, sopping-wet towels in your gym bag post-workout. This premium towel dries much faster than standard towels, so you can reuse it again and again. Machine washable.
- ✔ HIGH QUALITY: This ultra-absorbent, fast-drying microfibre towel is one of the largest luxury microfibre towels available! Ideal for people of all sizes, it’s the perfect take-along for the gym, pool or beach or even just use as a bath sheet.
Swimmers should carefully dry their ears with a blow dryer.
- However, they should take special care to ensure that the hairdryer is used only on its lowest setting.
- It should also be held at arm’s length away from the ear.
Some swimmers rub alcohol drops into each ear with a cotton pad.
- This can help to dry the ears out quickly, thus reducing the chances of infection.
Not recommended
Swimmers should not use a cotton bud inside of their ear canal as it can increase the chance of infection.
Takeaways
Swimmer’s ear often occurs when water is left in the ear after swimming, hence the name.
- This can cause the build-up of bacterial growth which can lead to an infection.
- Competitive swimmers can be more susceptible to developing swimmer’s ear due to the prolonged periods of time they spend in the water.
- Prompt treatment is strongly advised as this can help prevent the condition from becoming worse.
Related swimmer’s health articles
We have produced a series of swimmer’s health articles on the causes, prevention and treatment of swimmer’s shoulder | breaststroker’s knee | muscle cramps and swimming back pain
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For information regarding our portfolio please follow our link: Swimming publications
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