How do I Treat Swimmer’s Ear

Summer brings more questions about managing swimmer’s ear.

But acute otitis externa isn’t only from water. This bacterial overgrowth can also occur due to earbuds, eczema, etc.

Use a topical treatment based on eardrum status, cost, and convenience…regardless of the cause.

Intact eardrum.

In most cases, use a topical antibiotic drop (Optimyxin, etc)…for 7 to 10 days.

The pain should resolve in a few days. Steroid combos (Sofracort, etc) may resolve pain a day sooner but may cost more.

Ear tubes or a perforated eardrum.

Use an otic or ophthalmic quinolone.

Quinolone EYE drops can be used in the ears…and may cost a bit less. For instance, Ciprodex otic is $30/7.5 mL…but Ocuflox ophthalmic is about $15/5 mL.

Pain.

Use oral acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Try not to use ear drops for pain. Anesthetic drops (Auralgan, etc) may mask symptoms of a worsening infection…and others (Hyland’s, sweet oil, etc) aren’t likely to help.

Prevention.

To dry the ears after water exposure, use a hair dryer on low, several inches from the ear…or isopropyl alcohol (Auro-Dri, etc).

or try a home remedy, such as a 1:1 mixture of white vinegar/isopropyl alcohol. This may even do the trick for MILD symptoms.