Swimmers Ear

[DandyDon]

Damn, I'm late. I didn't get to tell you anything good as they've covered it so well. Some people like the vented plugs, but they're one more thing to keep up with - I don't use them, but some need to.

Ear Beer

DAN Divers Alert Network : More On Swimmers Ear

I used to use Aqua Swim-Ear, now I refill the bottles with half 70% alcohol, half vinegar. The home mix has about a 30 day good period, then discard, but it's cheap.

Never put peroxide in your ear! An Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) once told me that putting peroxide in you ear can cause severe damage resulting in deafness. Usually it causes no problems, but why take a chance?

Yep, someone started a rumor that H2O2 was good in ears. NOT! Some mix it with the alcohol and vinegar, but it just breaks down to water then diluting the mix.

Isn't that what the ear wax removal stuff is mostly made of?

I believe those are oils.

What if it's a virus?

Never heard of an ear virus. Viruses don't reproduce like bacteria, they invade.

I coincidentally spent the morning at Children's Hospital Boston with a ENT specialist who was seeing my daughter for problems with recurrent, nasty bouts of swimmer's ear. His recommendation echoes one you've already gotten here- a 50-50 solution of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. The alcohol helps to dry the ear and the vinegar changes the ph, making the ear canal less hospitable to bacteria. Use it religiously every time you get out of the water. Also try to avoid getting water in your ears in the shower or bath. If you don't have the ear solution available you can use a blow dryer on low to dry your ear (honest to God, this was really what he said). His comment on earplugs? "We use them for kids with tubes for other reasons, but for most people they're a long run for a short slide."

Yep, my grandson's ENT said same thing after his ear tube surgery.

Oh the $120 antibiotic drops are much cheaper in generic, cheaper yet OTC in Cozumel if you make sure you got the right stuff. I have a couple of old bottles, probly need to replace them.

 

[TheHobster]

a good way to solve the problem is to prevent it all together.

i worked at a marine science summer camp, where we were in the water...sometimes nasty inshore mucky water...several times a day. and the kids were there for 18days. so a case of swimmer's ear was a big problem.

we use to use a home brew to keep out ears clean and disease free

50/50 rubbing alcohol and distilled vinegar.

put it in a squeeze bottle....old squeeze top water bottle...or better yet the bottles that eye contact saline solution comes in (you must know someone that uses the stuff).

just tilt your head to the side, squirt some in and let it sit for a few seconds...then do the other side.
tastes nasty....but it works. never had a problem in 3 months of working there, being in crappy water 3-5 times a day.

and it's cheap!!!

this is what I recommended to my swimmers for years - works great and is cheaper than Swim Ear and is essentially the same