Remember, that trapped drop is an annoyance, not an emergency. Stay calm, use physics, and never go digging. Your ears will be back to their clear, beach-ready selves in no time.
Set a hairdryer to its lowest, coolest setting. Hold it about 12 inches (30 cm) from your ear and wave it gently back and forth. The gentle breeze can evaporate the water without risking heat damage to your skin. water stuck in ear after swimming
An infection requires antibiotic ear drops. The good news is that with proper treatment, swimmer’s ear clears up quickly. Without treatment, it can become a painful, swollen condition called "malignant otitis externa" (rare, but serious). Before your next swim, consider using earplugs specifically designed for swimming (not the foam noise-canceling kind, which absorb water). Alternatively, a few drops of swim oil (lanolin or mineral oil based) can coat the ear canal and repel water. Remember, that trapped drop is an annoyance, not
Close your mouth, pinch your nostrils shut with your fingers, and gently exhale through your nose. You should hear a soft "pop" as the Eustachian tubes open. While this is usually for pressure, the slight change in ear canal volume can sometimes dislodge water. Do not do this forcefully if you have a cold or sinus congestion. Set a hairdryer to its lowest, coolest setting
If you don’t want to mix your own, pharmacy brands like Swim-EAR use a similar drying agent (anhydrous glycerin or alcohol). Follow the package instructions carefully. When to See a Doctor Most water dislodges within a few hours. However, if you experience pain, redness, swelling, discharge (especially yellow or green), or hearing loss that persists for more than 48 hours, you may have developed swimmer's ear.