Having just got over 6 weeks off diving and 5 visits to the ENT specialist. I know more about swimmers ear than I used too. Now I use the commercial Swim Ear stuff because it doesnt dry the ear out which can lead to aural dermatitis, it provides a light oily film which protects the ear canal. Bacterial infection is caused by the ear way getting sodden every day and infection setting in. Worse in warm fresh water. The vital takeaway from the ENT doctor was not on any account to use antibiotics. This kills off bacteria in the ear which invites a potentially worse and hearing damaging fungal infection.
Swimmer Ear Solution
- Thread starter ScubaGil
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Oh my! 
I'd heard never to use qtips before a dive trip because it causes fine scratches in the ear canal and that leaves a spot for infection to set in. But nothing about the antibiotic.
(Of course we're not supposed to use qtips anyway in any event )
I'd heard never to use qtips before a dive trip because it causes fine scratches in the ear canal and that leaves a spot for infection to set in. But nothing about the antibiotic.
(Of course we're not supposed to use qtips anyway in any event )
sealark
Contributor
I posted this before foolproof read it I am 73 still Dive every chance I get. It works for me and everyone that has ever tried it. I use it after EVERY dive. Enjoy
When I hit 40 I would get ear infections every time I spent more than a couple hours a day in the water. Then I started using the recipe below after EVERY dive. I haven’t had an ear infection in 33 years. I always have a bottle on board and in my truck. I just take the cap off hold my finger over the opening and let a small amount go down into each ear.
All the materials are available at any drug store for less than $10.00. The Alcohol dries the water, The boric acid is what your grandmother used for infections and the white vinegar keeps the wax from drying up because of the alcohol.
Ear wash recipe
1 Pint 70% or less % Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
Boric acid powder 6 oz. is more than enough. Boric acid is what your grandparents used as an antibiotic.
White Vinegar
Pour out about 2" of the alcohol out.
Pour or put about 2 Table spoons Boric acid into Alcohol and shake up. If acid remains in powder on bottom you have enough if not add until a small amount remains on bottom. Only a certain % will go into solution so you can't overdue the Boric Acid. Fill the remaining area in the bottle with white vinegar and shake up. The solution is now ready to use.
I usually buy 3 or 4 bottles of alcohol and mix them up in a big bowl then pour them back mixed up into the alcohol bottles. This way the powder on the bottom remains in the bowl and won’t make your ears white when the solution dries out after pouring it into your ears.
When I hit 40 I would get ear infections every time I spent more than a couple hours a day in the water. Then I started using the recipe below after EVERY dive. I haven’t had an ear infection in 33 years. I always have a bottle on board and in my truck. I just take the cap off hold my finger over the opening and let a small amount go down into each ear.
All the materials are available at any drug store for less than $10.00. The Alcohol dries the water, The boric acid is what your grandmother used for infections and the white vinegar keeps the wax from drying up because of the alcohol.
Ear wash recipe
1 Pint 70% or less % Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
Boric acid powder 6 oz. is more than enough. Boric acid is what your grandparents used as an antibiotic.
White Vinegar
Pour out about 2" of the alcohol out.
Pour or put about 2 Table spoons Boric acid into Alcohol and shake up. If acid remains in powder on bottom you have enough if not add until a small amount remains on bottom. Only a certain % will go into solution so you can't overdue the Boric Acid. Fill the remaining area in the bottle with white vinegar and shake up. The solution is now ready to use.
I usually buy 3 or 4 bottles of alcohol and mix them up in a big bowl then pour them back mixed up into the alcohol bottles. This way the powder on the bottom remains in the bowl and won’t make your ears white when the solution dries out after pouring it into your ears.
Relax chilly.Oh my!
I'd heard never to use qtips before a dive trip because it causes fine scratches in the ear canal and that leaves a spot for infection to set in. But nothing about the antibiotic.
(Of course we're not supposed to use qtips anyway in any event )
What the poster is talking about excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics. A brief use to treat an active infection poses little risk. But yes, once a fungal infection sets up housekeeping in the ear canal its a pain to treat. And unfortunately not all providers are as familiar with fungal so they may miss it and treat with antibiotics, compounding the problem.So yes, an antibiotic when needed but like all antibiotics, only when needed.
All these recipes work fine. I used vinegar and alcohol. Vinegar kills the bacteria and alcohol dries the ear out. I just didn't leave it in long enough before and a couple of time didn't use it after. One or two dives eg weekend diving wont do it. Its repetitive diving over a week for example that is where you get problems as the ear never gets a chance to dry out. Alcohol dries the ear out and it is this that can lead to dermatitis in the ear; very itchy and unpleasant apparently. It didn't with me, but that's just what the doc told me. Just passing it on....
Relax chilly.
So yes, an antibiotic when needed but like all antibiotics, only when needed.
What the doc actually said was dont buy off the shelf antibiotics to treat what you think is a bacterial ear infection because of the risk of a fungal infection. Trouble is you dont know what type of infection it is until the doc looks.
You are right. Just buying and using an antibiotic "off the shelf" in my world would be considered inappropriate use. One reason why antiobiotics are not available without a prescription in the States. And I think this is true of Canada as well, the home port of the poster I was replying to.
This was recommended to me by an MD who dives a great deal: I rinse my ears with an over-the-counter hypoallergic, moisturizing disinfectant solution, usually sold as a "hand disinfectant" maybe 100 ml bottles, often with the added terms "non-allergic" and "moisturizing". Most of these solutions have a bit of gylcerine in them for moisturizing/soothing the skin, and alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol) that dry out the water.
Normally I use it only if an ear is bothering me. When on a liveaboard I use it preventively, every night sometime between my last post-dive shower and going to bed. The same small solution bottle fits well in a purse or pocket, so its nice to use that last day on dry land as an actual hand disinfectant after handling cash, using a washroom, etc.
Rinse your ear well with fresh, clean water. Don't ever put any "tool" like a Q-tip into the canal; esp. when even slightly inflamed the skin surface there is too thin and too sensitive. You are virtually certain to do more harm than good.
Normally I use it only if an ear is bothering me. When on a liveaboard I use it preventively, every night sometime between my last post-dive shower and going to bed. The same small solution bottle fits well in a purse or pocket, so its nice to use that last day on dry land as an actual hand disinfectant after handling cash, using a washroom, etc.
Rinse your ear well with fresh, clean water. Don't ever put any "tool" like a Q-tip into the canal; esp. when even slightly inflamed the skin surface there is too thin and too sensitive. You are virtually certain to do more harm than good.
fmerkel
Contributor
If you are really worried about drying out the ear canal you can put in a small amount of Olive Oil after the application of ear beer and it's dried out a bit.
Yeah, I use a Q-tip for that but very gently as an applicator, just to smear it around evenly.
Inappropriate use of a Q-tip can shove ear wax into the canal and form a plug. I've had a wax plug happen spontaneously while diving. That's annoying. You can dive with it BUT a lot of people would think they have barotrauma because it affects your hearing.
Q-tips also easily remove the wax that is there, generally why people use them. The wax has a protective function.
Yeah, I use a Q-tip for that but very gently as an applicator, just to smear it around evenly.
Inappropriate use of a Q-tip can shove ear wax into the canal and form a plug. I've had a wax plug happen spontaneously while diving. That's annoying. You can dive with it BUT a lot of people would think they have barotrauma because it affects your hearing.
Q-tips also easily remove the wax that is there, generally why people use them. The wax has a protective function.
I bought this bottle from REI - 2 oz is plenty for 2 of us for a week of diving.
Nalgene Drop-Dispenser Bottle - 2 fl. oz. - REI.com
Nalgene Drop-Dispenser Bottle - 2 fl. oz. - REI.com
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