How to Properly Treat Swimmer's Ear

Swimmer's Ear is a painful condition caused by getting water in your ear canal. It cannot be ignored and treating the situation early will help tremendously. Here are tips on both treatment and avoidance of Swimmer's Ear.

Things You'll Need

• Bathing Cap
• Ear Plugs

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Instructions

• 1

  Treating Swimmer's Ear is not something you want to put off. It can progress rapidly ... becoming very tender, painful and even causing swelling around the outside of the ear by your cheek. Swimmer's Ear is an infection of the ear canal lining and is generally caused by water/dampness in the ear. Here are suggestions for relieving Swimmer's Ear.

• 2

  Relieving the pain of Swimmer's Ear is often a first concern. Ibuprofen is very helpful. It will help alleviate both pain and swelling. Take only the recommended dose. It should be noted, although the pain may lessen due to Ibuprofen, the infection will still persist.

• 3

  Many people want to wait out Swimmer's Ear for a couple days hoping it will go away. My daughter and husband both recently had this infection. They were each told it is better, in this situation, to treat immediately with antibiotics. If you do elect to wait a day or two ... it's very important to keep the ear area completely dry at all times.

• 4

  For Swimmer's Ear consulting a doctor is your very best course of action. They will determine, at your visit, if an antibiotic ear drop is warranted. These drops tend to work tremendously well.

• 5

  To avoid Swimmer's Ear in the future ... always wear a swim cap in the pool. Your ears should always be covered by your swimming cap. Wearing ear plugs is also very effective. When you are done swimming, it's important to fully dry the exterior of your ear. You want to avoid any water re-entering your ear canal. Never swim in a pool that has not been chlorinated properly.