How to Soothe Swimmer's Ear

Swimmer's ear, that painful condition that forms for many during the hot, moist months of summer, can actually strike at any time. Moisture seeps into the ear canal and sets up house where it allows nasty bacteria to grow and populate. Head shaking, tilting your head to the side and using Q-tips to try to get the water out seldom works. In fact, using Q-tips can cause an infection to speed up by removing protective earwax and skin. Here are several ways you can soothe swimmer's ear and get relief from the itching and pain.

Things You'll Need

• Blow-dryer
• Ear plugs
• Old Sock
• Cornmeal
• Garlic oil capsules

Instructions

1. Dry them out. Using a blow dryer on low can often blow away the moisture that helps bacteria grow. Pull the ear out and away from your head to allow more air to blow into the ear. Keep the dryer at least 12 inches away from the ear.

2. Block the moisture. Wear ear plugs while swimming and taking a shower. Many of the new wax or silicone earplugs work well in the water. Wearing earplugs during a shower is especially important so that shampoo doesn't get into the ear and dry out the natural lubrication.

3. Don't stick anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. Earwax is your friend, and shouldn't be removed unless there is an abundance. Using Q-tips, toothpicks or hair pins to scratch the itchy ear and remove ear wax sets you up for infection.

4. Heat them up. Ear pain or itchy ears can often be soothed by heat. Take an old sock and fill it with cornmeal. Heat the sock in the microwave for 30 seconds and hold to the ear. This old time remedy is surprisingly effective and helpful, especially with small children.

5. Itchy ears, add oil. A couple of drops of garlic oil from a garlic capsule can be soothing to irritated, itchy ears. Garlic can kill those pesky swimmer's ear bacteria.

6. Try a tried and true home remedy. In a small bottle mix half white vinegar and half rubbing alcohol. After each swim or shower, place two drops in each ear. This mixture is quite amazing. The alcohol dries up the water in the ears, and the vinegar helps keep the ear's ph balance steady. A balanced ear is a healthy one.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use pure garlic oil, stick with the capsules. Pure garlic is too strong.

• If you wear a hearing aid, take it out and allow your ear time to dry. Hearing aid wearer's are prone to ear infections.

• Adding heat to an itchy, swimmer's ear can pull an infection to the surface. If you have had pain and it is interfering with your sleep, see a doctor.