Mineral oil in ears?

[cork2win]

I've read a couple people suggest (in addition to the ear beer after diving) to put a few drops of mineral oil in the ears before diving to help alleviate ear infections. Can anyone tell me what purpose this is supposed to serve?

Also, if you're doing multiple dives in a day, do you use the ear beer between dives, or only after the final dive?

Thanks.

[DocVikingo]

Hi cork2win,

The purpose of mineral oil is to place a protective barrier between the tissue lining the external auditory canal and water entering the outer ear during diving. The earwax that naturally coats the ear, also known as cerumen, does exactly that when it has not been removed away by repeated exposure to water or "ear beer" that contains too much alcohol or other ingredients that dissolve it. If too much of one's cerumen is dissolved and washed away, the ear can become more rather than less prone to irritation and infection. The mineral oil should be gently worked into the ear before each dive.

If necessary, a simple home-brew of 1/3 distilled water, 1/3 distilled white vinegar and 1/3 isopropyl alcohol placed into each ear post-dive can provide additional protection. A new batch should be made about every 30 days.

Helpful?

This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.

Regards.

DocVikingo

[cork2win]

Thank you! I tried the mineral oil before my dives yesterday and it seemed to work really well, although I still did the ear beer afterward as well. I figure I can't be too careful at this point. Today I'm feeling fine so it must have worked!

[DandyDon]

"Ear beer"...? There are various mixes suggested. I use the 50-50 venigar-alcohol mix after every dive and every shower. Maybe that's more than needed, but I have been bedridden for 2 days by an ear infection when I used nothing - and I am not a pansy. Some ear infections are very bad.

[eckybay]

Okay.
Mineral oil before. . .ear beer after. Check.
I waited a week and a half until the pain was so bad that I couldn't sleep to go to the doc on my last ear infection. Yes, I'm stupid at times and yes, I've learned my lesson.

[DandyDon]

I still have a problem with calling it "ear beer." Someone is gonna take it wrong and pour Coors in their ears. Next they'll ask if a larger or ale is ok?

I call it "Swimmers Ear or my personan mix" when I suggest it to other.

[skywalk]

I can't find any mineral oil except the johnsons baby oil which has mineral oil and fragrance. good enough to use before each and every dive?

[DandyDon]

I can't find any mineral oil except the johnsons baby oil which has mineral oil and fragrance. good enough to use before each and every dive?

Hehe, I bought a quart of it cheap - easy to find here. But over there...?

Check the ingredients. Anything listed is going into your ears, some of which will enter your body. If it's just high priced oil and fragrance, probly ok - and probly handy in a small bottle.

I think the after dive, after shower alcohol & vinegar is more important. It's all I use, works well, and I don't want to ever be disabled by an ear ache again. Those can get rough. :11: