How to Dry Ears

The Mayo Clinic reports that "your ears' protective features work best when they are dry" and that if your "ear canals are exposed to excess moisture--for example, if you swim a lot--they're more likely to become infected." Wet ears sometimes lead to "swimmer's ear," an ear canal infection in which ears become red, itchy and may discharge an odorless fluid. To keep your ears dry, take precautions such as wearing ear plugs when you swim and drying your ears if they do get wet.

Things You'll Need

• 1 towel
• 1 hair dryer (set to low heat)
• 1 set of ear plugs

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Instructions

• 1

  Use a towel to dry ears. Familydoctor.org, the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians. recommends drying your ears with a towel after swimming or taking a showering. You can aid the flow of water by "turning your head to each side and pulling the earlobe in different directions."

• 2

  Blow a hair dryer set on low heat into your ears. Familydoctor.org relates that using a hair dryer can help dry your ears, but you should "bee sure to hold it several inches from your ear."

• 3

  Purchase a bathing cap or earplugs. Familydoctor.org also suggests a wet suit hood if you surf. If you have children with ear persistent ear infections that are not responding to antibiotics and they begin to affect your child's hearing, then your child may need drainage tubes, relates the Mayo Clinic website. "Your child's hearing should improve immediately," the site reports.