How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear: Tips from The Salt Room Longwood
According to the Mayo Clinic, swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer
ear canal, which runs from your eardrum to the outside of your head. It’s often brought on by water that remains
in your ear, creating a moist environment that aids the growth of bacteria.
Swimmer’s Ear Tips
Preventing swimmer’s ear is pretty simple: when your activities include
water sports, remember to shake any water out of your ears! Kids especially spend a lot more time in the
water than adults and tend to ignore the water in their ears. Remember to dry around their ears with a
towel and get them to tip their head and rub their ears to help get all the
water out. You can also use a blow dryer
on the low cool setting and hold about 6 inches away from the ear to help dry
the ear canal. Do not use cotton swabs,
as they are known to strip the skin of necessary oil which can cause more
problems.
If you think you have swimmer’s
ear (usually indicated by redness around the opening of the ear canal) or spot
your kids rubbing or tugging at their ears, you can try a drop of colloidal
silver, over-the-counter swimmer’s ear drops, or try our recipe below. Don’t use drops if the person has ear tubes
or has pus coming from the ear. In those
instances, visit your primary care physician.
Recipe
to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear
When combined, vinegar and rubbing alcohol may prohibit the growth of
bacteria in the outer ear and thereby reduce the risk of swimmer’s ear.
Directions: Mix one part
white vinegar with one part rubbing alcohol.
Before and after swimming, pour one teaspoon of this solution into each
ear and then allow it to drain back out.
Do not use if the eardrum is punctured.
We hope these tips help you and your family fully enjoy
swimming this summer!
The Salt Room Longwood
serves all age groups in the Central Florida area with a safe, drug-free
therapy proven to be effective for relieving symptoms of many chronic sinus,
lung and skin conditions such as allergies, sinus infections, asthma and
eczema. Salt therapy is safe! HEPA/carbon
filters and UV light kill 99% of all airborne and surface bacteria and
viruses.
To schedule a salt therapy session, call 407-862-1163 or visit www.SaltRoomLongwood.com.
