To solve this problem, you have to look at the root. All water we dive in has bacteria. Our body is a walking germ fest. We have adapted to this, in the case of our ears, by keeping the ph. hostile to the growth of bacteria. By being in the water or having water in our ears for long periods of time, we dilute this ph. Now the bacteria can grow unchecked. You'll first notice your ears seem to be alittle itchy.
Now we know the cause, the solution is simple. Restore the ph. and keep the water out. The best and least expensive way to do this, for divers, is a solution of 50/50 rubbing alcohal and white wine vinegar. The alcohal will dry out the water and the vinegar will restore the ph. Put the solution in before the dive, let stand in each ear for 5 minutes. Use the solution after you get out of the water. If it seems like it burns alittle, drop the alcohal percentage till you find what is right for your ears. You can use whatever vinegar you want. I've found the white wine vinegar to be alittle less smelly.
I would have people on the boat that would have this problem every week. I remembered reading an article in a medical journal from a doctor at a kids summer camp. By the end of the week every kid in the camp would have swimmers ear. He approached the problem like a true scientist. He quickly realized the water, ph. situation as the cause. He used the supplies at hand to formulate a solution. He set up different groups and used different percentages of the vinegar/ alcohal mix with each. He also studied the length of time the solution was left in the ears.
By the end of the summer he had come up with the 50/50 mix and the 5 minutes in each ear before they went in the water and a squirt after they got out of the water. I would mix up a batch of this ear beer and keep it on the boat with my other medical supplies. I would include this information with the dive briefing at the beginning of the week. Those that used the solution would never have a problem. Those that started using it after they started to feel the itch would usually be OK by the end of the week. Anyone that could taste the solution or feel it burn usually had broken the ear drum or badly bruised it. Easy enough to see with an otoscope. Too forceful an equalization can also make the ears tender for the solution.
I believe this article was from the 60's. In the last couple of years, DAN also had an article with the same conclusions. I think I also saw the same general conclusions in an article writen by one of the staff of the experimental diving unit here in Florida. This goes to show you, after 40-50 years, no body has come up with anything better or cheaper. The small bottle for contact solution works well and fits in a mask box with my defog. If you let it get to the itchy point, it may be starting to get infected. The solution will not clear up an infection. It is only a preventative measure.
but I also had people asking to borrow some. This stuff is "not" cheap and you don't get much either so I'm really glad the home brew recipe was posted on this thread.
