Swimmer’s Ear, What’s the Cause?

Imagine you’re a detective in an old-school noir movie. You’re taking a hard-nose approach to busting the killer and your one clue is that they have Swimmer’s ear.

You’re poring through newspaper articles and old school yearbooks in an extended montage set to dramatic music. You’re wondering if any of your main suspects might have been a member of the school swim team. Or if they presently have a membership at the local pool.

And of course, just as these kinds of old movies go, you discover only one who turns out to be the killer. Case closed! There’s probably an action packed scene or some weirdly philosophical bickering before the end, it depends on the type of movie. And it’s all courtesy of Swimmer’s Ear.

Regrettably, that’s not at all how it would work in real life. The investigation itself was flawed. Because swimmers aren’t the only ones who are impacted by Swimmer’s Ear.

What is Swimmer’s Ear?

Dealing with the symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear is not at all enjoyable. The symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear usually include itching inside of your ear canal, pain when you touch your ears, and sometimes a pussy emission. It’s… not fun.

Although Swimmer’s Ear isn’t a life threatening situation, it can still have a considerable impact on your quality of life. It will make you miserable. Hearing loss can even occur during the infection.

Is there a difference between an ear infection and Swimmer’s Ear? Normally, it’s the location. Swimmer’s ear generally impacts the ear canal while an ear infection impacts the inner ear. This usually means a fungus or bacteria is infecting the outer ear (this fungus won’t turn you into a zombie so don’t be concerned if you’ve been watching The Last of Us).

What causes Swimmer’s Ear?

In spite of its name, Swimmer’s Ear is not caused by, well, swimming (mostly). Actually, a fungal or bacterial infection is the cause.

But our movie detective wasn’t entirely wrong, Swimmer’s Ear isn’t always completely unrelated to swimming. It shouldn’t be surprising that regular exposure to water can increase your risk of Swimmer’s Ear since fungi and bacteria like warm moist conditions.

But when it comes to Swimmer’s Ear, water isn’t the only risk. Here are a few other ways you can develop this outer ear infection:

• Sustaining an injury to your ear canal. This can sometimes happen during cleaning (if you’re too aggressive with your fingernails or a cotton swab, for example). Cuts or scrapes can get infected and lead to Swimmer’s Ear.
• Excess ear wax. Usually, earwax can help clean your ears. But too much of a good thing can be potentially harmful in this case, the excess earwax can become a vehicle for bacteria, and irritate the skin in your ear canal at the same time.
• Devices designed for your ear. There are several devices that we will advise you to wear that are included in this such as earplugs and hearing aids. Your risk of developing Swimmer’s Ear will be greater if you use these devices constantly or improperly. It’s essential to wear your hearing aids and use hearing protection and there are a few ways to handle the risks.)
• Weakened immune systems. Fungal infections can develop if your immune system isn’t at full capacity.
• Medical history. You will be more prone to developing Swimmer’s Ear if you have a history of topical allergies or other skin disorders.

Naturally, there’s no guarantee that you will or won’t experience Swimmer’s Ear even with these risk factors. Just because your ears get wet doesn’t mean you’ll instantly develop this condition. But your chances of getting Swimmer’s Ear will be increased by prolonged exposure to moisture.

How can I prevent Swimmer’s Ear?

Swimmer’s Ear can have numerous causes and so you can reduce your risk by taking any one or more of several preventative measures.

• Keep your ears dry: Lightly dry your ears with a towel after swimming or showering. It isn’t necessary to go hard. Also, drain the water out of your ear by tipping your head. If you are able to keep your ears dry, the bacteria or fungi will have a less hospitable place to grow.
• Don’t clean out your ears with implements: If something is bigger than your finger, don’t stick it in your ear. This means you need to steer clear of bobby pins, cotton swabs, or anything else you can think of. You won’t regret it!
• Keep your earplugs or hearing aids clean: The spread of germs like bacteria will be lessened if you keep them clean.
• Wear earplugs if you swim frequently: Right from the start, water won’t be able to get in.
• Special drying agents are available which we can help you with: These basically consist of ear drops that will help dry your ears which you can get over-the-counter. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to your doctor about anything you may put in your ears.

You’ll want to at least watch out for symptoms. Don’t wait until your Swimmer’s Ear is intolerable before you talk to your doctor.

Swimmer’s Ear FAQ

• Will Swimmer’s Ear clear up on its own? Maybe. Slight cases may go away after a few weeks. But more serious cases will persist until they are correctly treated.
• What are the treatments for Swimmer’s Ear? Antibiotic ear drops are normally the go-to treatment. Or they might be antifungal ear drops when you’re dealing with a fungal infection.
• If I have ear pain after swimming, is it always Swimmer’s Ear? Not always, although it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor either way.

Solve the case of your Swimmer’s Ear

Your body is probably informing you that you are dealing with an ear infection if your ears feel itchy or painful. Even if you’re not a swimmer, you can still develop Swimmer’s Ear. Getting medical help is the next step and you don’t have to be a detective to figure that out.

So schedule an appointment as soon as you experience these symptoms.

Call Today to Set Up an Appointment