Swimming may be a great way to spend the end of summer, but doing so could put you at risk of a condition known as swimmer’s ear. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t swim – it just means you should take care to remove water from your ears after you’re done. Below we review how to do so as well as when to see a health care provider for water in the ears.
How to Remove Water from Your Ears
Follow our tips below to remove water from your ears to prevent the infection known as swimmer’s ear.
Tilt Your Head
Sometimes all you need to do to remove water from your ears is tilt your head to one side or lay sideways with your ear on a towel for a few minutes. For a more effective method, you can create a vacuum by tilting your head, resting your ear on your cupped palm to form a seal and moving your hand back and forth to draw the water out.
Gently Tug Your Earlobe
You can also try tugging gently on your earlobe backward or downward, which moves the cartilage of the ear canal, making a straighter path for water to roll out. You can also shake your head from side to side while doing this.
Use a Hair Dryer
Air dry the ears using a hair dryer on the lowest, coolest setting. Hold the hair dryer a few inches from your ear and move it back and forth to prevent a burn.
Don’t Try Q-Tips
You should never stick Q-tips into the ear in an attempt to remove the water. Not only can this introduce bacteria to a moist environment – a recipe for infection – but you also risk pushing wax deep into the ear canal or puncturing your eardrum.
When to See a Doctor
You should see a doctor if you feel like you’re starting to develop an infection known as swimmer’s ear. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include:
- Redness around the outer ear
- Itchy ear
- Pain in or around the ears
- Drainage from the ear
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
- Muffled hearing
- Fever
If you do develop this infection, your physician at The McCoy Institute may recommend antibiotics, pain medication and/or corticosteroids to manage symptoms and treat the infection.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call The McCoy Institute today.
