Swimmer's Ear

[Nay]

I have a question about swimmer's ear. I've been plagued (OK, that's overdoing it a bit) by minor ear infections for the last month. I'v taken drops and it helps for a bit but either doesn't get rid of the whole problem or it comes back. It seems like even taking showers gets enough water in my ear to aggrivate it.
I can't afford to be going to my doctor's every week for a new prescription so I was wondering what other divers do for:

1) treatment of minor infections and

2) prevention of the problem in the first place.

Thanks!

 

[MarkH]

For swimmer's ear (outer ear infection), I just use rubbing alcohol. Put a few drops in and wick it out with a piece of tissue. End of that problem. Some people recomend vinegar, but I can't stand the smell. As for prevention, I think you're out of luck there.

 

[armyscuba]

I have a question about swimmer's ear. I've been plagued (OK, that's overdoing it a bit) by minor ear infections for the last month. I'v taken drops and it helps for a bit but either doesn't get rid of the whole problem or it comes back. It seems like even taking showers gets enough water in my ear to aggrivate it.
I can't afford to be going to my doctor's every week for a new prescription so I was wondering what other divers do for:

1) treatment of minor infections and

2) prevention of the problem in the first place.

Thanks!

Just answered this one on another post..Olive Oil can help and it does not dry out the ear canal like alcohol does. Try it...as far as prevention..Staying out of the water is the only fix..and of course not an option.

 

[Big-t-2538]

Try this blend of stuff...It seemed to work for a lot of people I swam with

2 parts isopropyl alcohol
1 part vinegar
1 part hydrogen peroxide

There's no good "prevention" other than keeping your ears out of the water until the infection is cleared up.

 

[chickdiver]

Half and half vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Put a few drops in after swimming/ diving. Rubbing alcohol dries out the ear canal andthevinegar (acetic acid) changes the ph of the ear canal making the environment inhospitable to the bacteria. This will prevent infections. Using anti-biotic drops over long periods of time is actually bad, as the bacteria (which are always present to some extent) become immune.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Nay,

The diving ENTs that I know unanimously recommend against hydrogen peroxide; about 1/4 recommend against alcohol & most that do recommend alcohol say keep it below 50%

Used repeatedly, alcohol & especially hydrogen peroxide will dissolve the cerumen (ear wax which is both chemically & physically protective) in the external auditory canal and can be excessively drying, leaving the canal sore & prone to infection. Remember, this is on top of the drying action of repeated, extended soakings of the ear in water while diving.

Placing a few drops of mineral oil or lanolin into a well dried ear canal before each dive may be a better idea.

If one wants to go with a post-dive mix, a mixture of 1/3 white vinegar, 1/3 alcohol, 1/3 distilled water & a thimble full of mineral oil is sensible. Shake well before using.

As for treatment, it somewhat depends upon whether the infection is bacterial or fungal in nature, but combination preparations for the ear containing neomycin, polymyxin B & hydrocortisone are often a good place to start when recommended by a doctor.

The diver prone to infection of the auditory canal will want insure that there is no excess build up of ear wax. He will also want to keep the ear canals dry through mechanical means. These might include gently towel drying as thoroughly as possible between dives & carefully airing the canals with a hair dryer at a LOW heat setting following the diving day. BTW, the overly intrusive or vigorous use of cotton swabs generally is not recommended.

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual, and should not be construed as such. The diver will want to consult with an ENT prior to any endeavors at the prevention or treatment of otitis externa.

Best regards.

DocVikingo

 

[Hoppy]

I'v taken drops and it helps for a bit but either doesn't get rid of the whole problem or it comes back. It seems like even taking showers gets enough water in my ear to aggrivate it.

Personal experience , having just got rid of a reoccuring infection, which sounds awfully similar.

I spent months with the damn thing coming back a while after using drops.

I ended up at a private ENT guy, who very carefully cleaned the ear inside, then I used the drops for 3 weeks, result clear ears !

The bit in between he advised showering with cotton wool / tiny bit of vaseline in the ear to keep it scrupulously dry. Worked a treat.

I now use a swimmers ear proprietry thing after getting them wet.

The main thing seemed to be from this guy was getting all the gunk out before you use the drops, otherwise it kills of the top bacteria but the little s*ds underneath then come back after 2-3 weeks.

Best £100 i've ever spent, spin off was I could hear better afterwards as well

See a proper ENT

 

[pipedope]

Has been at the start of every ear infection I have had.

When I was a child, a trip to the Dr. would get the excess wax cleaned out. Later I learned to do it myself.

Ear wax is one of those things where Too Little and Too Much are both a bad thing. The right amount is a very good thing.

On my bad infections the Dr would clean my ear and give me drops that contained steroids to reduce the swelling, letting the meds get to where they needed to be and making me much more comfortable.

A good Dr makes all the difference on clearing this up and preventing it in the future.

 

[Rick Murchison]

I've used a homebrew of 2/1/1 rubbing alcohol/vinegar/hydrogen peroxide for over 30 years with no ill effects, and no ear infections.
Even so, recent cautions about hydrogen peroxide and too much alcohol have me rethinking that... but so far my basic philosophy of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" has kept me to the old formula.
Rick

 

[DocVikingo]

(nt)