Swimmers Ear Relief

How To Treat Swimmers Ear

If you're looking for a remedy for the type of ear infection known as swimmer's ear, your doctor is always your best bet. Keep in mind, swimmers ear is an ear infection, and in most cases your doctor will suggest antibiotics as a remedy. He or she may also prescribe ear drops. Over the counter swimmers ear drops are not usually strong enough to relieve swimmers ear pain, but aspirin, ibuprofen (such as Advil), or acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may give you some relief. 

Below is some information about how to treat swimmers ear that may help while the infection is healing. These remedies may give you some relief, but they're not likely to cure the problem. Use these with discretion, and if you're feeling a lot of pain from your swimmer's ear, be sure to get medical attention. If you begin to experience fever, chills or discharge from your ear, call your doctor immediately.

How to treat swimmers ear at home A heating pad may relieve mild swimmers ear pain. But limit it to short periods, and be sure to buffer the pad with a towel or cloth. This will help prevent accidental burning of the ear if the heating pad is too hot.

A hair dryer set on warm (not hot) can help in two ways. It can relieve swimmers ear pain by providing some gentle warmth. It can also help dry any excess water in the ear canal. Be extremely careful with this remedy, however. You might want to test the air flow on your wrist to make sure it's not too hot.

You may consider gently swabbing the inside of the ear with alcohol. It kills germs, but also speeds the evaporation of water that's trapped in the ear.

Preventing swimmers ear Avoid swimming or any outdoor activity that exposes your ear to water. Don't let water get into your ear while showering or bathing. Use swimming ear plugs or Vaseline-coated cotton balls when swimming or showering.

Do not try to clean out "gunk" from your ear yourself. If you see any visible debris or drainage (excluding normal ear wax), get to a doctor. If you try to clean out your ear youself, you could puncture your ear drum.