Swimmers Ear Treatments

Swimmer's ear is characterized by redness and inflammation of the ear canal, itching, pain, a yellowish, pus-like discharge, and increased pain when the earlobes are touched. The chances are pretty good that you have swimmer's ear if you notice all or most of these symptoms in yourself. Your doctor will likely advise that the ear needs to be kept dry throughout the treatment; an ear canal dryer is a great way to do this.

Ear canal dryers keep the ear dry, and therefore clear of bacteria that can lead to or exacerbate infections. They are commonly used by those who are in the water a lot, since they are portable and work quickly. A number of users have discovered that by simply drying the ear after being in the water--which takes about a minute--instances of swimmer's ear decrease dramatically. Since these devices are somewhat new to the market, your best bet is to look online.

Swimmer's Ear Treatments for Pain

There is no doubt about it, the worst part of having an ear infection is dealing with the constant throbbing pain. Taking pain medication along with your antibiotic therapy will allow you to function as you normally would, as the pain will be minimized greatly. If you feel that the pain is not responding to over-the-counter pain remedies, talk to your doctor about possible prescription treatments for pain. You will probably also want to invest in an ear canal dryer in the future, especially if you are a swimmer or surfer. As long as you keep your ears dry, swimmer's ear can be largely avoided.

Before you try to self-treat swimmer's ear, it is important that you visit your doctor for an ear examination. You may not actually have swimmer's ear and therefore the course of treatment would be different. However, if you are prone to swimmer's ear and you have had it numerous times before, you probably know the symptoms of this condition quite well.