5 Swimmer’s Ear Home Remedies You Can Try Right Now for Relief

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You don't necessarily have to swim to get swimmer's ear, an infection of the outer ear. Whether it's spending time outdoors in humid weather, bathing, or running through the backyard sprinkler, it's easy to get water in your ear.

Water that gets trapped in the ear canal is a great place for bacteria or fungi to grow. When that happens, it can lead to swimmer's ear, an outer ear infection (otitis externa).

Most people need treatment with prescription ear drops, like antibiotic or steroid ear drops, to cure their swimmer's ear.

But there are home remedies for swimmer's ear that can help ease symptoms while you wait for prescription medications to start working. Some home remedies can even lower your risk for developing otitis externa in the future.

Here are five home remedies to help swimmer's ear.

1. Keep your ears dry

Keeping your ears dry is part of good general ear health. And it can help prevent swimmer's ear.

If you spend a lot of time at the beach or pool, consider using a bathing cap or well-fitting ear plugs to prevent water from getting in the ear. Or you can apply Vaseline to a cotton ball and place it over the ear while bathing.

Once you're out of the water:

• Gently tilt your head to the side to help water drain out of the ear canal.

• Pat your ears dry.

• You can also use a hair dryer on the lowest setting to dry out your ear.

When you have otitis externa, keeping your ears dry can help lower the risk of more bacteria and fungi growing in your ear canal. This can help your infection from getting worse.

Keeping your ears dry can also make you more comfortable. Drainage from swimmer's ear can be irritating and itchy. Keeping your ears dry can help relieve some of these symptoms.

2. Use ear drops

It may seem counter-intuitive, but using ear drops can help clear and dry out the ear canal.

You can make ear drops to prevent swimmer's ear at home by mixing equal amounts of rubbing alcohol and distilled white vinegar. After swimming, put a few drops in each ear. This combination helps dry out the ear canal and prevent the growth of bacteria.

One quick note: Don't use homemade ear drops if you have ear tubes or a hole in your eardrum without first talking with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist or a primary care provider. Homemade rinses can increase the risk of serious infection in people with a hole in their eardrum.

Homemade ear rinses can sometimes help relieve symptoms of swimmer's ear. But many people also develop skin breakdown inside the ear canal when they have swimmer's ear. Alcohol, vinegar, and other rinses may cause further irritation.

It's best to talk with a healthcare professional before using a homemade rinse when you have swimmer's ear.

3. Apply heat

Gentle heat around the ear can help relieve swelling and pain from swimmer's ear. Try applying a heating pad or a warm compress around the ear for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Keep the heating pad on low and wrap it in a towel to avoid burns.

4. Try OTC pain relievers

Pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) can reduce inflammation and pain from swimmer's ear. They're available over the counter (OTC). Here's what to know about them:

• Acetaminophen generally starts working in 45 minutes. You can take it every 4 to 6 hours.

• Ibuprofen starts working within 30 minutes. You can take it every 6 to 8 hours.

Make sure to follow dosing instructions, especially for children.

5. Take a break from swimming

If you have signs of swimmer's ear like pain, itching, or redness around the ear, it's best to avoid swimming for a while. This can help you avoid getting a new infection while your old one is still trying to clear up.

Most experts recommend about a week out of the water for people diagnosed with swimmer's ear. You may be able to keep swimming even with an infection. But it's important to take steps to avoid getting more water in your ears (see the first remedy, above).

Your primary care provider or ENT specialist can help you figure out whether it's safe to go back in the water with active otitis externa.

Are there home remedies you shouldn't use for swimmer's ear?

Yes, some home remedies for otitis externa can make your symptoms worse. Here are home remedies to avoid when you have swimmer's ear symptoms.

Garlic oil

Garlic has some antibacterial properties. However, studies show that garlic doesn't work well to treat swimmer's ear. In addition, garlic oil can cause skin irritation or burns inside the ear canal.

Hydrogen peroxide

Excess ear wax can sometimes make you more prone to swimmer's ear. That's because wax can trap bacteria and water in the ear canal.

You can use OTC products like Debrox. Or you can use a home mixture of equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water to soften and remove wax.

However, you should never use these drops if you have ear tubes or a hole in the eardrum. These drops should also not be used if you have symptoms of swimmer's ear. They can cause more damage to the ear canal.

Ear candles

Ear candles are a home remedy that some people use to remove wax and debris from the ear canal. However, ear candles can cause serious burn injuries and aren't recommended for treating swimmer's ear.

Q-tips

Resist the urge to put Q-tips (or any other objects) into the ear to try to clean it out. This can damage the ear canal and increase your risk for infection.

Essential oils

Various essential oils have been reported to help treat ear infections.

One small study looking at a combination of three essential oils found that they worked as well as ciprofloxacin antibiotic ear drops to treat otitis externa. However, the study was small.

And essential oils can cause allergic reactions or damage the eardrum. That's why experts don't recommend essential oils for treating swimmer's ear.

When should you seek medical care for swimmer's ear?

If you have symptoms of swimmer's ear, it's best to reach out to a healthcare professional for help. Most cases of swimmer's ear get better quickly with antibiotic or steroid ear drops. Some people need treatment with an oral antibiotic too.

Seek care if you have:

• Itching in the ear

• A sense of fullness or your ears feeling plugged

• Pain when pulling on the ear lobe, chewing, or touching the ear

• Discharge coming out of the ear

• Swelling and redness of the ear or behind the ear

• Extension of the ear away from the side of the head

• Fever

Rarely, swimmer's ear can lead to a more severe infection, such as cellulitis or malignant otitis externa. Checking in with a healthcare professional can help you avoid more serious complications.

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