Sign up
Log in
EspañolSave big on your prescriptions.
Get the free SingleCare app
Get the free SingleCare app
Always free for consumers
Quickly access discount cards
Over a billion dollars saved
4.8 average rating
Text a link to download the app
Phone number
Scan to download the app
Swimmer’s ear—those two words are enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone who has experienced this painful condition. For some, swimmer’s ear is an unpleasant one-time experience. But for others, it returns over and over again, like that irritating neighbor who just doesn’t take the hint.
Swimmer’s ear is an infection or inflammation of the outer ear, including the ear canal. Also known as Otitis externa, swimmer’s ear gained its moniker because it often starts with water trapped inside the ear canal. Still, it’s possible to get swimmer’s ear on dry land (and with dry ears). Causing 2.4 million healthcare visits each year in the United States, swimmer’s ear is common. Symptoms can range from mild itching to severe pain and blocked ear canals. Thankfully, swimmer’s ear is usually successfully treated with ear drops and/or oral antibiotics.
What is swimmer’s ear?
Swimmer’s ear is an infection, irritation, or inflammation of the outer ear (the external ear and the ear canal leading to the eardrum). While it usually affects children and teenagers, people of any age can develop swimmer’s ear.
Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include:
- Itching
- Pain in the ear, often intense, that can radiate to the neck, face, or side of the head
- Pain which increases when earlobe or auricle (outer ear) is tugged on
- A feeling like the ear is blocked or full
- Redness and swelling on the skin around the ear
- Fever
- Drainage from the ear
- Outer ear appearing to be pushed forward or away from the skull
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Decreased hearing
If left untreated, swimmer’s ear can cause serious complications, particularly in the elderly and people with diabetes. These can include:
- Chronic otitis externa (recurring ear infections)
- Hearing loss (this is usually temporary and improves after treatment)
- Malignant otitis externa (bone and cartilage damage). This occurs when the infection spreads to the base of the skull, brain, or cranial nerves. It can be both painful and dangerous. Older adults and the elderly are more at risk.
Do I need to see a doctor?
Swimmer’s ear can clear up on its own, but a trip to the doctor is still recommended. Other more serious conditions like middle ear infections or temporomandibular joint syndrome (“lockjaw”) can mimic the symptoms of swimmer’s ear, and it’s important to rule these out. Getting a proper diagnosis lets you know the seriousness of the infection and which course of treatment is best. Even if your swimmer’s ear will eventually clear up on its own, getting treatment speeds up the healing process and reduces pain.
How is swimmer’s ear diagnosed?
Swimmer’s ear can usually be diagnosed by a primary care provider, but he or she may refer you to an otolaryngologist—an ear, nose, and throat doctor also called an ENT.
At the visit, the doctor will ask you what your symptoms are and how long you have been experiencing them. He or she will look at the redness and swelling in your ear and can often diagnose swimmer’s ear based on a visual inspection.
If you are having recurring swimmer’s ear or your physician is unsure of what is causing the infection, he or she may take a swab of the discharge and send it for testing.
If any debris is present in your ear, your healthcare provider will remove it and clean your ear.
Some questions to ask your doctor might include:
- How can I safely remove excessive earwax?
- Is swimming allowed during recovery from swimmer’s ear?
- What can I do for pain relief?
- How can I prevent swimmer’s ear from recurring?
- What should I look for that might indicate the swimmer’s ear is getting worse or needs further medical attention?
Swimmer’s ear treatment options
In most cases, swimmer’s ear is treated with ear drops. Some ear drops treat bacterial infection, some treat fungal infection, and some help manage inflammation inside the ear. Which one your doctor prescribes will depend on the cause of your swimmer’s ear.
Swimmer’s ear caused by bacterial or fungal infection can be cured with treatment. For bacterial swimmer’s ear, people tend to start feeling better after a few days of treatment, but it takes 7 to 10 days for the infection to be gone completely.
Occasionally, oral or IV antibiotics may be prescribed.
Conditions such as eczema and seborrhea that can contribute to swimmer’s ear are not curable, but they are manageable with ear drops and with visits to your doctor to clean out debris.
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories can be used for comfort during treatment.
Swimmer’s ear medications
Ear drops used to treat swimmer’s ear contain one or more of these ingredients:
- Antibacterial/antifungal medications
- Acidic medium
- Steroid medications
Antibacterial/antifungal medications
Some antibacterial/antifungal medications include neomycin/polymyxin, colistin, cipro, and clotrimazole.
Neomycin/polymyxin is an antibacterial medication often used in ointments. It is typically administered 1 to 3 times a day. It does not work on viral or fungal infections. Some possible side effects include (but are not limited to): irritation, burning, redness, rash, and itching.
Colistin is an antibacterial medication that can be used for the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacteria.
Cipro drops usually come in single-dose containers, to be taken according to the prescription. Some side effects can include ear discomfort, pain, or itching.
Clotrimazole 1% solution may be used to treat fungal ear infections. A typical course of treatment is 2 to 3 drops, two to three times daily. Side effects are uncommon, but some people may experience symptoms such as irritation, redness, itching, and other mild allergic-type reactions.
Acidic medium
Examples of acidic mediums include acetic acid (vinegar) and boric acid.
This form of treatment is used for milder forms or swimmer’s ear or to prevent a recurrence of swimmer’s ear. Be careful not to overuse this treatment as it can dry out ears too much and make things worse. Check with your doctor before doing this at-home treatment.
Steroid medications
Cortisone and dexamethasone are two examples of steroid medications. Steroid medications help to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Cortisone and dexamethasone are typically applied up to 4 times a day. The most common side effects are stinging, burning, irritation, dryness, or redness at the application site.
Combination medications
Medications, such as an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic, are often combined into one solution to treat swimmer’s ear. These medications come with instructions for use. Follow the directions of that specific medication.
What is the best medication for swimmer’s ear?
The best form of treatment depends on the cause of your swimmer’s ear. Your doctor will also consider any other medical conditions you have, your medical history, the medications you are currently taking, and your past/current response to treatments. Consult your doctor before starting any medication or treatment.
| Best medications for swimmer’s ear | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug name | Drug class | Administration route | Standard dosage | Side effects |
| Dexamethasone | Corticosteroid | Tablet, topical solution | 0.5 to 10 mg daily, 10+mg for more severe conditions | Upset stomach, vomiting, headache, dizziness |
| Cipro (ciprofloxacin) | Antibiotic | Tablet, topical solution | 6 years and up: 4 drops 2x daily for 7 days. Under 6 years: as directed by a doctor | Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhea |
| Cortisone Otic (neomycin-polymyxin-hc) | Otic antibiotic and steroid combination | Topical solution | Children and adults: 4 drops 3-4x daily up to 10 days Children 2 and under: 3 drops 3-4x daily up to 10 days | Skin rash, redness, swelling, itching, dryness, scaling |
| Canesten clotrimazole | antimycotic/ antifungal agent | Oral tablets or lozenges, topical cream | Apply cream to affected area twice a day. Take 4-5 lozenges per day for up to 14 days | Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever |
Dosage is determined by your doctor based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.
What are common side effects of swimmer’s ear drops?
While this is not a complete list of side effects for swimmer’s ear medications, these can occur if used regularly:
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Heartburn
- Diarrhea
- Skin rash
- Redness, swelling, itching, dryness, and scaling of skin
- Fever
Always consult your primary care provider before taking medications and report serious complications or side effects immediately.
What are the best home remedies for swimmer’s ear?
Over-the-counter ear drops are not generally strong enough to cure a swimmer’s ear infection. For an acute bacterial or fungal infection, it’s best to see your doctor for a prescription.
It’s very important to see your healthcare professional before using ear drops or ear washes. Ear drops can be dangerous for people who have a perforated eardrum or have ever had a perforated eardrum. Ask your doctor to check that your eardrum is intact and in fit condition to use ear drops of any kind.
There are some things you can do at home to help prevent a mild case of swimmer’s ear from progressing or to prevent it from happening at all.
Keep ears dry
When swimming, cover your ears with a bathing cap, earplugs, or another effective physical barrier between the water and your ears to keep moisture out.
After swimming or bathing, dry your ears gently but thoroughly with a towel. Tilt your head to the side and pull your earlobe in different directions to encourage the water to drain out. Repeat with the other ear. You can also dry out your ears by putting a hairdryer on the lowest heat and speed settings and holding it several inches from each ear.
Use a vinegar and alcohol wash
This should not be used to treat acute swimmer’s ear infections, but vinegar can be mixed with rubbing alcohol and used as drops to safely dry out the ear canal and inhibit bacterial and fungal growth. Mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part rubbing alcohol, then apply 6 to 8 drops in the ear using an eye dropper. Tilt your head sideways or lie down when applying so that the drops run down into the ear. Then tilt your head to the other side to allow the drops to run back out on their own. The alcohol works to dry out the ears, while the vinegar changes the pH inside the ear to prohibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. An alternative solution is 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts rubbing alcohol.
Similar effects can be produced by a boric acid and alcohol solution. To mix this solution, slowly add boric acid to a bottle of alcohol. When the acid starts to accumulate at the bottom the alcohol is saturated.
Pool maintenance
Make sure that your pool or hot tub, or your community pool or hot tub, has its pH balance checked twice a day. You can check it yourself with pool testing strips.
Leave your ears alone!
The only objects that should go in your ear are hearing devices, earplugs, and earbuds—and those should all be cleaned regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Keep other foreign bodies out. That includes pencil ends, bobby pins, paper clips, your fingers, and especially cotton swabs.
Cotton swabs are for the outside of your ear only, keep them out of your ear canal! Cotton swabs can cause trauma to the tissue in your ear canal making infection more likely. They can cause trauma to your eardrum. They can introduce bacteria into your ear. And, they can push earwax further into your ear and compact it. It might feel good in the moment, but try to resist!
Speaking of earwax, you are supposed to have some. Earwax helps protect your ear from infection. If your earwax is excessive, see your doctor to have it safely removed. Do not try home treatments or digging it out yourself. And stay away from ear candling. It doesn’t work, and it can be dangerous.
Pain management
While it’s best to treat the infection with prescription medications, the pain that accompanies swimmer’s ear can usually be managed with over-the-counter medications.
Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help with pain. Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) can help with pain and inflammation, as can Aleve (naproxen). All of these can also treat fever.
None of these will cure swimmer’s ear, but they can make the experience much more tolerable.
Frequently asked questions about swimmer’s ear
Can swimmer’s ear clear up on its own?
It can, but it’s best to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis and a recommended course of treatment to help it heal faster and reduce the risk of complications.
How long does it take for swimmer’s ear to go away?
With proper treatment, symptoms can start feeling better within a few days, but it can take 1-2 weeks for a complete recovery. Some stubborn cases can take longer.
How do you get rid of swimmer’s ear fast?
Unfortunately, there is no fast way to cure swimmer’s ear. A full course of treatment takes at least a week. Prescription ear drops and pain medication can help the symptoms of swimmer’s ear feel better within a few days.
Is there an OTC medicine for swimmer’s ear?
Over-the-counter ear drops are not recommended to cure swimmer’s ear. OTC pain medication such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen can help you feel better while your prescription ear drops are working to fight the infection.
Is hydrogen peroxide safe for swimmer’s ear?
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to soften or clear out ear wax which may trap water—but if overdone, it can irritate your ears. If you suspect you have excess wax, it’s best to consult a physician.
How can swimmer’s ear be prevented?
Dry your ears with a towel after swimming or bathing. You can also tilt your head to each side to help water drain, use a hairdryer on the lowest setting, or instill a few drops of a 1 part white vinegar, 1 part rubbing alcohol solution. Do not use cotton swabs or other foreign objects inside your ear canal.
Swimmer’s ear is unpleasant and can certainly take the fun out of your water—and land—activities. By seeking prompt medical treatment, using the treatment prescribed by your doctor, and keeping your ears nice and dry, you can help make swimmer’s ear go away and stay away.