Swimmer's Ear Home Remedy

Swimmers ear, referred to as acute external otitis or otitis externa, is caused from bacterial infections in the ear canal. Swimmers ear is caused from excess moisture in the ear and usually begins with ear itching symptoms, and when left untreated turns into a full-blown infection of the ear canal. Once a swimmers ear infection has set in, the pain can be excruciating and you will need to see your doctor for a round of antibiotics to squash the infection. There are a variety of home remedies to relieve pain and discomfort from the infection.

Heat

Brian W. Hands, M.D., suggests using a blow dryer to keep moisture out of your ear canal and to soothe ear pain caused from a swimmer's ear infection. Hands recommends pulling your ear up and out to straighten the ear canal, hold the hair dryer at least 18 to 20 inches away from the ear, and use the hair dryer to blow warm air into the ear canal. Eliminating moisture within the ear canal will also discourage the growth of infection-causing bacteria.

Creating a heat compress can soothe pain from a swimmers ear infection. Create your own heat compress by filling a bottle with warm water and wrapping it in a blanket or by using a warm towel just out of the dryer and placing it on your ear. Gel first-aid packs that can be heated and used as a heat compress. Use a heating pad set on low or medium for an easy instant heat compress.

Ear Drops

Avid swimmer Dan Drew, M.D., suggests using over-the-counter ear drops formulated to prevent bacteria growth in the ear. Drew states that ear drops can relieve itching and prevent further infection. Mineral oil, baby oil and lanolin can be warmed and dropped into the ear to relieve pain and itching from swimmer's ear. Use oil drops before swimming or prolonged exposure to moisture to prevent swimmers ear infections

Homemade ear-drying solutions

If you swim frequently or spend a lot of time in the water, Jennifer Derebery, M.D., recommends considering homemade ear-drying solution to prevent ear canal moisture and swimmers ear infections. Ear-drying solutions will dry up moisture within the ear and kill any germs that can generate infections. Create an ear-drying solution by combining equal parts of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Place solution in your ear by pulling your ear up and out to straighten ear canal, and use a medicine dropper to deposit a few drops in each ear. If you do not have both liquids, white vinegar and alcohol can be used separately for the same affect. Laura Orvidas, M.D., suggests using drugstore-variety peroxide in your ear; it has antibacterial actions and can effectively quell minor cases of swimmers ear.

Over-the-Counter Medications

If you are experiencing severe pain due to a swimmers ear infection, try using over-the-counter pain relievers to soothe pain until you are able to remedy the infection with antibiotics. Donald Kamerer, M.D., suggests using aspirin or acetaminophen for soothing ear pain until you can see a doctor for treatment.