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Top of the pageCheck Your Symptoms

Ear Canal Problems (Swimmer's Ear)

Overview

Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is a painful inflammation and infection of the ear canal. It causes the ear canal to look red and swollen. The ear canal may be narrower than normal and is tender when the outside of the ear is gently pulled up and back.

Swimmer's ear may occur when water, sand, dirt, or other debris gets into the ear canal. This can damage the protective layer of the ear canal, which may lead to inflammation. It gets its name because it often occurs when excess water enters the ear canal. If you've had swimmer's ear in the past, you are more likely to get it again.

A rare but serious infection called malignant external otitis can develop if bacteria invade the bones inside the ear canal and spread to the base of the skull. But not many people get this infection. It's mainly seen in older adults who also have diabetes, people who have HIV, and children who have impaired immune systems. But it can be fatal. Symptoms may include severe ear pain with drainage, loss of movement in part of the face, swelling, and breakdown of the skin in the ear canal. Antibiotics are used to treat this infection.

Other causes of inflammation or infection of the ear canal include:

Allergies.
Bony overgrowths in the ear canal called exostoses.
Bubble baths, soaps, and shampoos.
Cleaning the ear canal harshly or with a sharp object.
Headphones inserted into the ear.
Scratching the ear canal with a cotton swab, bobby pin, fingernail, or other sharp object.
Skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis.
Sweating.

You are more likely to get swimmer's ear if:

You have a very narrow or hairy ear canal.
You have earwax stuck in the ear canal (impacted) because you often use cotton swabs that may push the ear wax deeper into the ear canal.

Symptoms can include itching, pain, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Your ear canal may be swollen. You may have moderate to severe pain, drainage, or hearing loss. The pain is worse when you chew, press on the bump (tragus) in front of the ear, or wiggle your earlobe. This is different from the pain of a middle ear infection (acute otitis media).

You may be able to prevent swimmer's ear. Symptoms often get better or go away with home treatment.

Check Your Symptoms

Do you have a problem with the ear canal? Review health risks that may make any symptom more serious.

This includes problems like fluid in the ear after swimming.

Yes

Ear canal problem

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, or natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Vertigo is the feeling that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. It may feel like spinning, whirling, or tilting. Vertigo may make you sick to your stomach, and you may have trouble standing, walking, or keeping your balance.

Symptoms of an infection in the ear canal (swimmer's ear) may include:

Pain, especially when you touch your ear, wiggle your earlobe, or chew.
Redness or swelling in the ear canal.
Drainage from the ear.

Symptoms of an inner ear infection may include:

Pain deep in the ear. (External ear infections may itch or hurt in the outer part of the ear, but not deep in the ear.)
Fever.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Not having a spleen.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in children are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and congenital heart disease.
Steroid medicines, which are used to treat a variety of conditions.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Not having a spleen.

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger

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R 13.8.0.0

Self-Care

Some home treatment can help mild swimmer's ear. Do not put eardrops or anything else in the ear unless your doctor has told you to. Try the following tips to help mild swimmer's ear.

Rinse out your ear.
Gently rinse your ear using a bulb syringe and a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Make sure the flushing solution is body temperature. Inserting cool or hot fluids in the ear can make you dizzy.
Try eardrops.
If your ear is itchy, try non-prescription swimmer's eardrops, such as Swim-Ear. Use them before and after you swim or get your ears wet. Read and follow all instructions on the label, and learn how to insert eardrops safely.
Take over-the-counter medicines to reduce pain.
Ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Do not use ear candles.
They have no proven benefit in the removal of earwax or other objects in the ear. And they can cause serious injury.

If you are concerned that your symptoms are more serious, you may need to check with your doctor.

When to call for help during self-care

Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:

New or worse bleeding or drainage.
New symptoms, such as hearing loss or dizziness.
The ear canal or skin around the ear becomes red, swollen, itchy or painful.
Symptoms occur more often or are more severe.

Learn more

Over-the-counter medicines

More self-care

Watch

Here's Help: How to Give Your Child Eardrops, video

Information about Ear Canal Problems (Swimmer's Ear)

Preparing For Your Appointment

Related Information

Credits

Current as of: September 27, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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Click here to learn about Ignite Healthwise, LLC

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Ear Canal Problems (Swimmer's Ear)

Overview

Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is a painful inflammation and infection of the ear canal (Figure 1). It causes the ear canal to look red and swollen. The ear canal may be narrower than normal and is tender when the outside of the ear is gently pulled up and back.

Other causes of inflammation or infection of the ear canal include:

Allergies.
Bony overgrowths in the ear canal called exostoses.
Bubble baths, soaps, and shampoos.
Cleaning the ear canal harshly or with a sharp object.
Headphones inserted into the ear.
Scratching the ear canal with a cotton swab, bobby pin, fingernail, or other sharp object.
Skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis.
Sweating.

You are more likely to get swimmer's ear if:

You have a very narrow or hairy ear canal.
You have earwax stuck in the ear canal (impacted) because you often use cotton swabs that may push the ear wax deeper into the ear canal.

You may be able to prevent swimmer's ear. Symptoms often get better or go away with home treatment.

Check Your Symptoms

Self-Care

Do you have a problem with the ear canal? Review health risks that may make any symptom more serious.

This includes problems like fluid in the ear after swimming.

Yes

Ear canal problem

Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:

Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, or natural health products can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.

Symptoms of an infection in the ear canal (swimmer's ear) may include:

Pain, especially when you touch your ear, wiggle your earlobe, or chew.
Redness or swelling in the ear canal.
Drainage from the ear.

Symptoms of an inner ear infection may include:

Pain deep in the ear. (External ear infections may itch or hurt in the outer part of the ear, but not deep in the ear.)
Fever.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in adults are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS.
Long-term alcohol and drug problems.
Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Not having a spleen.

Certain health conditions and medicines weaken the immune system's ability to fight off infection and illness. Some examples in children are:

Diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and congenital heart disease.
Steroid medicines, which are used to treat a variety of conditions.
Medicines taken after organ transplant.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer.
Not having a spleen.

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older

Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger

C undefined
R 13.8.0.0

Self-Care

Preparing For Your Appointment

Some home treatment can help mild swimmer's ear. Do not put eardrops or anything else in the ear unless your doctor has told you to. Try the following tips to help mild swimmer's ear.

Rinse out your ear.
Gently rinse your ear using a bulb syringe and a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol. Make sure the flushing solution is body temperature. Inserting cool or hot fluids in the ear can make you dizzy.
Try eardrops.
If your ear is itchy, try non-prescription swimmer's eardrops, such as Swim-Ear. Use them before and after you swim or get your ears wet. Read and follow all instructions on the label, and learn how to insert eardrops safely (Figure 2).
Take over-the-counter medicines to reduce pain.
Ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve). Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label.
Do not use ear candles.
They have no proven benefit in the removal of earwax or other objects in the ear. And they can cause serious injury.

If you are concerned that your symptoms are more serious, you may need to check with your doctor.