Your idea of fun by splashing water at the beach may take a backseat with a painful ear infection. This is an itchy and irritating bacterial or fungal attack called swimmer’s ear. Although it mostly considers avid swimmers as its potential target, you may also be on its hit list even if you are not a swimmer. A person may get inflicted with swimmer’s ear after a shower or by inserting some sharp objects into the ear canal.
Image Description: An inside view of ear canal infected with swimmers ear
Anyways, instead of pondering over the causes of swimmer’s ear, we should better move on to its symptoms and remedies.
Swimmer’s ear, also called as External Otitis, is a bacterial infection that takes place in the outer ear canal. When excessive water accumulates in this canal, moisture becomes a perfect breeding ground for these bacteria. Other causes include excessive ear digging that may lead to scratch on the skin of the ear canal. High end devices like headphones, ear plugs, and hearing aids may also be the culprits that cause swimmer’s ear.
The first signs of this infection include a scratchy sensation leading to mild pain. The situation may worsen by rubbing the ear. In the worst cases, there may be some discharge from the ear accompanied by severe pain and redness. It’s an alarming sign!
In the worst case, you must visit your doctor. For mild bacterial attacks, here are some effective home remedies to help you:
Vinegar works quite effectively to alleviate swimmer’s ear. It restrains bacterial growth in the outer ear canal. To make it really work, add some white vinegar to some water and rub this solution gently on the ailing ear.
Soaking the infected ear with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide may be a crackling, but effective treatment. The bacteria tend to absorb the peroxide in this solution and it literally explodes inside your ear. To make it more fruitful, you can also add some vinegar to this solution. This remedy shows its effect in a span of three to four days.
Place a warm heating pad over the infected ear. It will subside the pain after some time. As an alternative to heating pad, you may use a warm washcloth or warm water bottle as well. And remember, it’s just the pain reliever!
It is an effective home remedy to prevent swimmer’s ear. A few drops of mineral drops poured in the ears before swimming may keep this infection at bay.
This home remedy may also relieve swimmer’s ear like a magic. Crush some garlic and leave it soaked in olive oil overnight. Next day, strain the excess oil and pour 3-4 drops of this mixture into the infected ear.
Use a dropper to pour a few drops of rubbing alcohol into the ear. After pouring it, make sure that it is evenly spread inside the ear. After some time, you can drip it out by tilting your head. Though, it is advisable that you should never make it a habit to use rubbing alcohol in your ear. It may lead to excessive drying of the skin inside. However, for faster results, you can add some vinegar as well to this solution.
Olive oil works as an antiseptic for swimmer’s ear. Pour some drops of luke warm olive oil and cover it up with a cotton swab. And believe me, it surely works!
Probably, we all have a hair dryer at home, isn’t it? Well, here is your easy home remedy for swimmers ear. Use your hair dryer at some distance from the ear and the heat generated from it is enough to dry the ear canal. If you feel a burning sensation, lower the temperature of the dryer.
Warm coconut oil is an excellent remedy to fight out swimmer’s ear. Pour few drops of this oil and tilt your head towards the infected ear. However, for extreme cold climate, it is not advisable to use coconut oil.
This is one home remedy suitable for all climatic conditions. Warm 20 ml of mustard oil and pour it using a dropper. Then cover the ear with a cotton swab and leave for some time.
With these simple home remedies, you can get rid of swimmer’s ear in a few days. Otherwise, consult your doctor for a dose of antibiotics.
Do not forget to share any remedies if you know and missed out here.