With Reflexologist Nuria Weaver
Home Remedies for Swimmer's Ear
Swimmer's ear is the name given to the infection that can occur in the outer canal of the ear. The canal runs from the eardrum to the outside of the head. This usually occurs when water remains in the ear while swimming. Hence it is called swimmer's ear. The infection may develop as the water provides a moist environment for the bacteria to grow. Nonetheless you can seek the help of some very effective home remedies for swimmer's ear.
The condition can be also referred to as acute external otitis or otitis externa.
Causes for Swimmer's Ear:
The infection is usually caused by bacteria which are commonly found in water and soil. In rare cases, this can occur by a fungus or a virus.
- When the ear defenses weaken such as glands that secrete waxy substances due to bacterial growth
- Excess moisture in the ear
- Abrasions and scratches causes by cotton swabs, hair pins that can break the skin and allow the bacteria to grow
- Skin allergies which may be due to hair products and jewelry can also promote the infection
Symptoms for Swimmer's Ear:
The symptoms for this infection are usually mild initially but as it gets worse, the infection can spread and can go to the advanced stages of progression. The symptoms that includes in swimmer's ear are:
- Itching
- Slight redness
- Mild discomfort that may arise by pushing in front of the ear
- Drainage which is clear and odorless
If these symptoms become intense and severe, consult the doctor immediately.
When swimmer's ear is in the mild stage, you can opt for some remedies that can be prepared at home. Some of these are listed below:
- Rest your ear on a hot water bottle. Wrap a towel so as to avoid any kind of burning. You can also use a heating pad with the lowest setting to relax and ease the problem.
- Use some solution of alcohol and distilled white vinegar. Combine equal parts of these two solutions and with a sterile eyedropper, put a couple of drops of the solution into the ear. Tilt your head so that it enters the canal properly. You can further tug some earlobe. After few minutes tilt your ear to your shoulder so as to allow the excess drainage from the ear.
- You can also use baby oil. But first you need to warm this a bit.
- You can also use mineral oil before you go swimming in order to protect the ears from the infection.
- Consuming of garlic is also effective to treat any sort of infection. Garlic contains anti-bacterial properties that can be used to treat any kind of ear infection which includes swimmer's ear as well.
These home remedies for swimmer's ear if taken and followed at the early signs of the infection can prevent further complication and lessen its severity.
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