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Home Remedy for Water Trapped in Ear Canal While SCUBA Diving

Water trapped in your ear can easily become an ear infection, also known as swimmer's ear, if left untreated. Symptoms of swimmer's ear include earaches, congestion and temporary hearing loss. To remove the water, several home remedies may be attempted, including vinegar, alcohol and using a blow dryer. These home remedies are to be used to reduce water buildup and are not intended to cure bacterial ear infections. If your symptoms persist or worsen, contact your physician immediately.

  1. Alcohol

    • Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) can dry up the excess water in your ear and requires only a few drops to work. According to "1801 Home Remedies," rubbing alcohol can also kill germs in your ear, and provide temporarily relief from ear congestion (see link in References). Use a sanitary dropper to dispense 2 to 3 drops of alcohol into the ear, and tilt your head to the side. Allow the alcohol to sit in the ear for 10 minutes. Once the time has passed, tilt your head to the left or right, depending on the side of the affected ear, and allow the solution to drain.

    White Vinegar

    • Mix 1 tbsp. white vinegar with 1 tbsp. distilled water, and use an ear dropper to place 2 to 3 drops in the ear every 4 hours. The white vinegar is potent and must be diluted to be used safely. Only use distilled water when mixing because tap water can contain germs and bacteria that causes an infection. As an alternative, replace the distilled water with alcohol and use every 2 hours. The trapped water will be evaporated by the mixture, and the mixture will drain out when you tilt your head to the side of the affected ear.

    Blow Dryer

    • Moistness in the ears is what causing bacteria and fungi to grow, but it can be prevented by blow drying the inside of your ears for 1 minute. To dry your ear, gently tug on your ear lobe and set the hair dryer to a warm or cool temperature at a low setting. Never set the hair dryer to hot, as you can burn your ear and require medical attention. Position the hair dryer 20 to 30 inches away from your ear, and do not blow dry your ears on high, as you can cause permanent hearing damage.

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