What Are the Treatments for Water in the Ear?

Water in the ear typically occurs after bathing or swimming. Along with the annoyance of water sloshing around in the ear, it can also cause ear health problems. Inflammation and infections such as swimmer's ear cause discomfort and pain. There are things people can do at home to treat and prevent water in the ear.

Swimmer's Ear

• Swimmer's ear represents one of the most common conditions caused by water in the ear. Constant exposure to water causes the healthy ear bacteria to wash away. Then the bad bacteria takes over and causes infection and pain. Cleaning the ears with a cotton swab after water exposure exacerbates the problem by getting rid of the healthy bacteria quicker. Treatment for swimmer's ear involves antibiotic ear drops and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, according to the New York Times.

Gravity

• Using gravity to your advantage works for most water-in-the-ear problems. Simply tilt your head or lie down on the side of the affected ear for a few minutes. Usually, water works it's way out of the ear in that time, says the website How's Health.

Blow Dryer

• Physically drying out the ear with a hair dryer works wonders to rid of water in the ear. Simply pull the ear lobe up to straighten out the ear canal. Then, put the hair dryer on it's lowest heat setting and blow it straight into the canal, suggests Mother Nature. It takes about 30 seconds of direct blowing air to get rid of most water in the ear.

Alcohol Solution

• When gravity and hair dryers don't work to get water out of the ears, use a dropper full of rubbing alcohol mixed with vinegar. Half vinegar and half alcohol works well. Squirting this solution helps move the water out of the ear and the alcohol dries up the remaining amounts very quickly, says How's Health. Drug stores also sell alcohol-based ear drops for this same reason, but homemade concoctions work just as well.

Prevention/Solution

• Preventing water in the ear is the best way to prevent the painful infections. Drug stores carry wax ear plugs that fit the ear's shape and prevent any water from seeping in. If over-the-counter ear plugs don't provide enough protection, ear doctors can have them specially made to fit individual ears.