Protect Your Ears While Swimming

Summer’s almost here! As the weather warms up and school lets out, you might be among the hoards hitting the beach or splashing in the pool. But after swimming all day, your inner ears may feel as if they’re filled with water. It usually drains on its own, but if the water remains there for several days, it can be more than just annoying. It can become the perfect environment for bacteria, leading to an infection called swimmer’s ear. That’s a condition marked by redness, swelling, itchiness and pain when pressure is placed on the ear. While it can be treated with antibacterial ear drops, it’s also easily preventable. Here are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control to help you avoid swimmer’s ear.

Don’t

• Put objects in your ear canal to attempt to get the water out. You could cause serious damage.
• Remove ear wax, which helps protect your ear canal from infection. If your ear canal is blocked by ear wax, a doctor can remove it.

Do

• Towel dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering.
• Tilt your head to each side with your ear facing down to allow water to drain. You can also gently pull your earlobe in different directions to help the water escape.
• Ask the pool operator if disinfectant and pH levels are tested at least once a day. Pools with improper disinfectant and pH levels are more likely to spread germs.
• Keep your ears dry while swimming with a bathing cap or ear plugs.

Follow these tips to avoid a painful infection and a trip to your doctor. And if you need swim plugs custom fitted to your ears, visit one of Clifton Springs Hearing Center’s three locations today.