Ear liquid mixture after diving

[sytech]

I remember reading in several places that the U.S. Navy had conducted tests to see how to prevent some post-diving ear problems.

I think it was a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and vinegar and the key factor was to tilt your head and hold the solution in your ear canal for a full 5 minutes.

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks,

Sy

 

[johnnyseko]

That's the mix I have. 5min seems like a long time, though. A quick rinse was all I ever did. It really came in handy when I was taking the kids to the local 'Y' swimming pool.

 

[joystershell]

I add a drop of baby oil to my home brew, to keep the ear from drying out, due to the alcohol.

 

[Damselfish]

I've seen recipes that call for adding a few drops of glycerin - does the baby oil work about as well?

 

[mislav]

I add a drop of baby oil to my home brew, to keep the ear from drying out, due to the alcohol.

The whole point of having alcohol in the mix is to dry your ear. That's how you pull the moisture out after the dive, for which your ear says "thank you".

 

[simcoediver]

Thats the mixure I use too, just 50/50 alcohol & vinagar, but you dont need to leave it in your ears for 5 minutes,just drop it in, massage your outer ears for a couple seconds and leave it at that. The alcohol kills any bacteria in your ear instantly.

 

[spectrum]

I remember reading in several places that the U.S. Navy had conducted tests to see how to prevent some post-diving ear problems.

I think it was a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and vinegar and the key factor was to tilt your head and hold the solution in your ear canal for a full 5 minutes.

Can anyone confirm this?

Thanks,

Sy

Here's my summary.

Pete

 

[spectrum]

but you dont need to leave it in your ears for 5 minutes,just drop it in, massage your outer ears for a couple seconds and leave it at that. The alcohol kills any bacteria in your ear instantly.

That is incorect and incomplete.

The time factor has been clearly proven.

It's not only about killing bacteria etc, it's also about moisture absorbtion and that requires time.

If it has worked for you the discusion amounts to proving a negative which cannot be done. In other words you have been lucky.

Pete

 

[ClayJar]

Here are two DAN articles on it. The first explains most of it, and the second covers homebrew.

DAN: Can You Prevent Otitis Externa, or Swimmers Ear? The Answer is in the Solution

DAN: More On Swimmers Ear DAN revisits and expands on the preventive measures for otitis externa​

Incidentally, quoting from the second:

Adding propylene glycol or other moisturizers would seem either to be a waste of time in a home-brew, or it might produce undesirable effects according to Dr. Jones' observations.

And to back up spectrum's response, also from the second article:

No matter what solution you use, remember its effectiveness is drastically reduced unless it remains in the ear canal a full five minutes.

 

[Thalassamania]

What we used for earwash on the Tektite project back in 1969 was equal parts of 15% Tannic Acid (15 gm. diluted to 100 ml), 15% Acetic Acid (15 ml diluted to 100 ml) and 50% isopropol or ethanol (50 ml diluted to 100 ml) in a wash bottle. Mineral oil in the ears before the dive and Tektite solution after. I've done this since '69 and never had any problems with my external auditory meatus.