June 27, 2026
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Q: I love to go swimming in the lake, but I often hear of people getting Swimmer’s Ear. What can you tell me about it?
A: The end of a school year often signals the start of summer and with that comes fun in the sun and swimming in the lake. The last little while of cooler weather won’t be too enticing to get into the water but rest assured, the warm weather will return.
Swimmer’s Ear, also termed otitis externa (Latin term for inflammation of the outer ear), is an infection that occurs in the ear canal. You may have guessed from the name that it frequently occurs after swimming but could also be from water getting into the ear while showering/bathing, heavy sweating, or humid weather. The water in your ear canal provides a wonderful environment for bacteria and fungi to breed. More commonly, it is caused by bacteria but there are some cases where fungi are the culprit.
The symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear can be described best by the severity:
Mild
Itching
Redness
Fluid leaking from ear
Mild pain
Moderate
More intense itching
Slightly more pain
Decreased hearing
Swelling of ear canal
Severe
More intense pain
Fully blocked ear canal
Redness of outer ear
Swelling of outer ear
Swelling of lymph nodes
Fever
We often see an increase of Swimmer’s Ear at the pharmacy during the hot, humid spells we often see in the summer. The heat and humidity that bring people to the lake to cool off, are the same factors that encourage higher bacteria counts. Not everyone who goes into the lake will get Swimmer’s Ear. There are certain individuals who are more prone to picking it up than others.
If you use objects, such as cotton swabs, hairpins or fingernails, to clean your ears, you may, inadvertently, cause a nick or scratch which gives the skin an opportunity to brew an infection.
Devices used in the ears, such as hearing aids or earbuds, can also cause scratches in the skin and, thus, lead to an infection.
Having eczema or psoriasis in the ear canal, also increases your risk of skin breakdown and, thus, developing infections in the ear
Earwax protects our ears and not having enough earwax, either because we removed too much or water has loosened it, increases our risk of infection.
We certainly do not wish to dissuade people from enjoying usual summertime activities. We do, however, wish to suggest some useful tips for you to adopt to prevent problems so that you can continue to enjoy the rest of the summer months without ear trouble:
After swimming or bathing, drain the water from you ears by tilting your head from side-to-side.
Use of isopropyl alcohol ear drops (Auro-Dri) after swimming or bathing might be worth trying if you have recurrent Swimmer’s Ear infections.
Dry the outer ear with a soft towel. You may also choose to use a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting but do not use it too close to the ear.
Wear earplugs, protective swimming headbands or a bathing cap while in the water to decrease water entering the ear.
Avoid water that has high bacteria levels.
Swimmer’s Ear is sometimes accompanied by pain stemming from the infection. You can manage the pain with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
There are many “home remedies” you may find on the Internet to help treat Swimmer’s Ear. We caution against the use of these as they have not been studied for safety, and the possibility of harm with using isopropyl alcohol, vinegar, and/or ear-candling, among other tactics, may outweigh any potential benefits.
As we stated earlier, Swimmer’s Ear is due to an infection. If you do find yourself with a case of it, you will need to seek treatment to stop the infection and begin the healing process. There are a few antibiotic ear drops that can be prescribed to you. Most require a prescription so you may need to see a health-care practitioner to acquire one.
Swimmer’s Ear is not one of the minor ailments that pharmacists can prescribe for. However, you may choose to seek the help of a pharmacist to see if you may be able to use an over-the-counter (OTC), non-prescription ear drop that contains gramicidin and polymyxin B. These OTC ear drops cannot be used in children under the age of six, nor should they be used if you have ear tubes or a perforated eardrum. In those cases, you will need to be seen by a nurse practitioner or medical doctor for assessment.
For more information about this or any other health-related questions, contact the pharmacists at Gordon Pharmasave, Your Health and Wellness Destination. Also check the website at www.gordon-pharmasave.com/ and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GordonPharmasave/.
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