Swimmer’s Ear, What’s the Cause?

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

So there’s a lengthy montage (with dramatic music) as you dig through old high school yearbooks and local newspaper articles. You’re looking to see if any of your leading suspects were on the high school swim team. Or if they currently have a membership at the local swim club.

And of course, just as these types of old movies go, you find only one who turns out to be the killer. Case closed! There will also probably be some action and heavy dialog at some point. And it’s all courtesy of Swimmer’s Ear.

In the real world, unfortunately, it doesn’t really work that way. The investigation itself was flawed. In real life, Swimmer’s Ear does not impact only swimmers.

Swimmer’s Ear – exactly what is it?

Coping with the symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear isn’t at all fun. Normally, you’re dealing with redness around the outer ear, lots of itching (usually inside the ear canal, in a place you can’t really get to it), pain when you wiggle your earlobe, and possibly even some pus. It’s… not pleasant.

Although Swimmer’s Ear isn’t a life threatening condition, it can still have a significant effect 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? It’s normally which part of the ear it impacts. Swimmer’s ear usually impacts the ear canal while an ear infection impacts the inner ear. Usually, this means that the outer ear is infected by either a fungus or bacteria (if you’ve been watching The Last of Us, there’s no need to worry about this particular fungus turning you into a zombie).

Causes of Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s Ear typically isn’t caused by swimming. Actually, a fungal or bacterial infection is the cause.

But that doesn’t mean swimming is entirely unrelated (our movie detective wasn’t completely right, but he wasn’t totally wrong either). Both fungi and bacteria like warm, moist environments, so it’s not entirely surprising that extended exposure to water can boost your risk of developing Swimmer’s Ear.

But when it comes to Swimmer’s Ear, water isn’t the only risk. There are other ways you can increase your risk of experiencing this very special outer ear infection, including the following:

• Sustaining an injury to your ear canal. This can occasionally happen during cleaning (if you’re too aggressive with your fingernails or a cotton swab, for example). Cuts or scratches can become infected and result in Swimmer’s Ear.
• Excess ear wax. Earwax is manufactured by your ears in order to keep them clean. But if the ears produce an over-abundance of earwax it can irritate the skin and become an ideal place for bacteria to live.
• Devices designed for your ear. There are a few devices that we will advise you to use that are included in this like earplugs and hearing aids. Using these devices constantly or incorrectly can aggravate the ear canal and raise your chances of developing Swimmer’s Ear. It’s essential to wear your hearing aids and use ear protection and there are some ways to handle the risks.)
• Weakened immune systems. If your immune system isn’t functioning at maximum efficiency, it’s possible for a fungal infection to take root.
• Medical history. You will be more likely to develop Swimmer’s Ear if you have a history of topical allergies or other skin disorders.

Needless to say, 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 developing Swimmer’s Ear will be elevated by prolonged exposure to moisture.

How can I prevent Swimmer’s Ear?

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

• Keep your ears dry: After you shower or go swimming or have a bath, use a towel to lightly dry your ears. It isn’t necessary to go hard. Also, drain the water out of your ear by tilting your head. If you can keep your ears dry, the bacteria or fungi will have a less hospitable place to grow.
• Don’t utilize implements to clean out your ears: Avoid inserting anything in your ear bigger than a finger. This means you should steer clear of bobby pins, cotton swabs, or anything else your imagination can conjure. You won’t regret it!
• Keep your earplugs or hearing aids clean: If they stay clean, you can help minimize the transfer of germs, including bacteria.
• If you swim a lot, use earplugs: This can help prevent water from going into your ears in the first place.
• Special drying agents are available which we can assist 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 consult your doctor about anything you might put in your ears.

At the very least, you’ll want to keep an eye out for symptoms. Talk to your doctor before your Swimmer’s Ear becomes severe.

Swimmer’s Ear FAQ

• Will Swimmer’s Ear clear up by itself? Possibly. Mild cases could clear up after a few weeks. But until they are properly treated, more severe cases will probably linger.
• How can you treat Swimmer’s Ear? Generally, this affliction is treated with antibiotic ear drops. Or they might be antifungal ear drops when you’re managing a fungal infection.
• Does ear pain after taking a swim always indicate Swimmer’s Ear? Not necessarily, though it’s a good plan to talk to your doctor either way.

Close the Swimmer’s Ear case

If your ears are painful and itchy, it’s sort of your body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong, and an infection is a pretty likely cause of the issue. Even if you aren’t a swimmer, you can still experience Swimmer’s Ear. Getting medical help is the next move and you don’t have to be a detective to figure that out.

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

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