What is Swimmer’s Ear and Can You Treat It at Home?
Summer in Kentucky means warm weather, days on the lake, and swimming! But, a not so fun side effect of all the water activities can be swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear doesn’t just happen to kids and it can really ruin your day or week. It’s one of the most common conditions treated during the warm, summer months.
What is Swimmer’s Ear?
Swimmer's ear, aka “otitis externa”, is an infection of the outer ear canal — that tube that runs from the opening of your ear to your eardrum. It's different from a middle ear infection (the kind kids often get with a cold), which occurs behind the eardrum.
The outer ear canal has a natural layer of earwax and slightly acidic pH that protects it from bacteria and fungus. When water gets trapped in the canal, it disrupts that protective environment, softens the skin, and creates warm, moist conditions where bacteria can quickly take hold.
Is Swimmer’s Ear Just From Swimming?
No! The name "swimmer's ear" creates a misleading image of a child splashing around in a pool all summer. In reality, swimmer's ear is extremely common in adults and people who barely swim at all.
You can develop swimmer's ear from:
Swimming in pools, lakes, rivers, or the ocean
Showering
Wearing earbuds, hearing aids, or over-ear headphones that trap moisture
Cleaning your ears too aggressively with cotton swabs, which strip the protective wax lining
Humid environments, even without water exposure
Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis that affect the ear canal
How Do You Know If You Have Swimmer’s Ear?
Swimmer's ear tends to come on within a day or two of water exposure or irritation. Common signs include:
Itching inside the ear canal — often the first symptom
Redness or swelling of the outer ear
Pain that worsens when you tug on the ear lobe or push on the small flap in front of the ear (the tragus)
A feeling of fullness or muffled hearing
Discharge — clear, white, or yellowish fluid draining from the ear
In more severe cases, significant swelling that partially closes the canal
What is The Difference Between Swimmer’s Ear and an Ear Infection?
With swimmer's ear, or “otitis externa”, the pain is in the outer canal and worsens when you touch the ear from the outside. Middle ear infections, or “otitis media”, typically cause deeper pain and often happen after a cold or sinus infection. A fever is more common with otitis media “ear infection” versus otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear.
Will Swimmer’s Ear Go Away On It’s Own?
Mild cases with just itching and minor discomfort sometimes resolve on their own if you keep the ear dry and avoid further irritation. However, most cases of true swimmer's ear require antibiotic or antifungal ear drops prescribed by a provider. Without treatment, it typically gets worse, not better, and can become quite painful.
Leaving swimmer's ear untreated can lead to a more severe infection that spreads to surrounding tissue. In rare cases, this can become a serious condition called malignant otitis externa, particularly in people with diabetes or weakened immune systems.
The bottom line: if your ear hurts, feels full, or has any discharge, it's worth having it evaluated rather than waiting it out.
How Do I Treat Swimmer’s Ear?
Treatment is straight forward when treated early by a health care provider. A provider will usually prescribe an antibiotic ear drop or an antifungal ear drop. Mild pain relief may be needed for the first couple of days of treatment. Over the counter ibuprofen or acetaminophen is fine.
Most people feel significantly better within 24–48 hours of starting drops, and fully recover within 7–10 days. The key is keeping the ear as dry as possible during treatment and completing the full course of drops even after symptoms improve.
Can Swimmer’s Ear Be Treated With a Virtual Visit?
Yes — swimmer's ear is one of the conditions that's very well-suited to a virtual visit. A board-certified provider can assess your symptoms, rule out more serious causes of ear pain, and send a prescription directly to your pharmacy the same day.
At Kentucky Health Advocacy, same-day virtual visits for swimmer's ear are available to adults 18 and older across Kentucky for $100, cash pay. No waiting room, no appointment required days in advance — just fast, straightforward care when your ear is driving you crazy.
Book a same-day visit: Text 615.483.0399, or schedule online here
How Can I Prevent Swimmer’s Ear?
The key to preventing otitis externa is to keep the ear canal dry and avoiding trauma to the canal itself. When swimming, wear a swim cap or ear plugs. When you get out, make sure your ears are fully dry with a towel or you can take a blow dryer on a low heat setting, at an arms length away, and carefully dry your ears.
The over the counter ear drops, oftentimes called “swimmer’s ear”, can help to prevent an infection by restoring the pH of the ear canal.
Can I Still Swim With Swimmer’s Ear?
It’s best to avoid water for 7-10 days to keep the ear canal dry. So unfortunately, that means avoiding swimming, submerging your head in the bath, and limiting shower water exposure to the ear as much as possible during that window.
Written by Jessica Rousseau, MSN, FNP-BC
This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing severe ear pain, significant swelling, high fever, or symptoms that are rapidly worsening, please seek in-person care or call 911.
