One of the most common, as well as most painful ear related medical condition that occurs mostly in the warmer months ( summer months) is known as "swimmers ear." Swimmers ear, also called otitis externa is a painful condition of the outer portion of the ear & ear canal. The ear canal is a cylinder shaped structure that extends all the way from the outer part of the ear through to the eardrum. Most of the time, swimmers ear is easy to recognize and easy to cure with home care, and if necessary, a visit to your audiologist or ENT.
Water in the ear can be irritating. Hearing is slightly impaired and there is a feeling of ringing in the ears.
The following are some of the options that you can do to get rid of the water from your ears:
1. Shake your head and tilt the affected ear downward. Tap your head with your palm (not too hard) and let gravity take its course to let it drain naturally.
2.. Jump for relief. Try hopping it off with one foot with the affected ear facing downward to push water away from your ears.
3. Do nothing. Lay still and sleep on the affected ear. Take a nap and concentrate on resting, do not get annoyed with the uncomfortable feeling of water being stuck in your ears. Gravity will also help in pulling the water down from your ears.
4. Another thing that does wonders for some people is putting 2-3 drops of rubbing alcohol in the ear, let it stay for 3 seconds and then tilt your head sideways.
5. Have you heard of an ear drying solution? It is a solution made up of 50% acetic acid or the simple vinegar we usually use at home and another 50% of isopropyl alcohol. Apply it with a cotton swab and let it drip in the ear, about 2-3 drops will do. This will help loosen the cerumen or the earwax that clogs the ear which might hold some water in the ear canal.
6. Apply pressure. Place your finger in your ear and do a push and pull motion vigorously into the ear. Water may come out because of the pressure.
7. Let it dry with a hair blower. Use a hair dryer on a low setting, place it near your ears (not too close that may cause some burns). This will hopefully dry out the stagnant water in your ears.
8. If you have done all the options and nothing changes, it is better to seek consultation from a physician to prevent further irritation or infection. Moisture is a good breeding ground for bacteria and microorganisms. If you let stagnant water stay in your ears for a long period of time, that simple water in the ear might cause serious ear complications.
These are the things that you must remember before you swim your heart out in the beach. Don’t spoil the fun. There are remedies for almost any discomfort.
Dr.Shapiro can always be contacted for questions or concerns at North Shore Eye Care & Hearing Services at (631)265-8780.
Review, Rate, & Explore
Tweet