Swimmer's ear!

[AshGirl]

What are your top tips for preventing this? Mine has developed into a full infection this week - I've got a AB spray but need to stop it coming back.

Does anyone use ear plugs? Or I've seen a preventative spray called Ear Calm?

I use Bollsen earplugs. I also wear them when i was my hair and its helped massively.

Earol Swim is good, it's a spray with tea tree oil and some other stuff in it that coats the ear canal and makes the skin less susceptible to bacteria.

I haven’t had an infection from it but get blocked ears etc and it’s infuriating! I use a hairdryer to dry my ears - it really works! Plus don’t try to dry with cotton buds which definitely make it worse.

Swim seal. You can get it from Amazon.

My son used to get an infection every week and as soon as I started using this they’ve stopped.

It seems expensive but it does last a long time.

Zoggs Aqua Plugz, Ear Plugs for Swimming, Reusable Silicone Ear Plugs www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LNE6VK/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apan_i_dl_ST5GA3WB2ND4XX1NS12A?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21
I use these ones

Ear calm is a sort of artificial ear wax which can help ease the symptoms of swimmers ear (and psoriasis in the ear) my ENT says to avoid ear plugs and ear pods as they can exasperate the problem and cause damage to the little hairs in your ear canal and hearing loss also wax plugs. The best thing you can do is get some cotton wool and coat it in vasilen and put it in your outer ear and use your swim cap to keep it in. I know how daft it sounds I must admit I asked my ENT if he was joking when he suggested it but it works and I haven't had a recurrence since.
Hope that helps

Following with interest... I had swimmers ear a few months ago, had to have two lots of antibiotics to clear it up. Dr advised to ear plugs for swimming which i have done, i now have tinnitus but no pain. 2 year waitlist for the ENT consultant Dr cant give me a straight answer or any advice whether i should continue to swim now i have tinnitus (i really, really want to continue swimming but i am already completely deaf in one ear from a childhood illness and now have tinnitus in the other ear so I am being extra cautious, but I love to swim)

Hoardasurass interesting read thanks, the Dr did advise the cotton wool and vaseline combo for the shower but ear plugs for swimming!!

I get 'swimmers ear' but it's because I wear hearing aids
My ENT person also said same as above - cotton wool in your ear held in place with vaseline
She said for when I wash my hair in the bath and when I go swimming
I get a lot of recurring outer ear infections
I haven't tried it yet to be fair I need to!

Ooh thanks purpleme2

Not sure if this is good for the ear but i find drying them with a hairdryer helps to prevent infections. My ears are terrible for infections. I also found it was a lot better for a year when i joined a gym and they has a pool that was barely used, less bacteria I assume.

Rocket1982 my pool is used a lot, i will try the hairdryer though thanks

Great tips! Thanks very much

So painful! I use swimmers ear in the kids and myself when on holiday - don't find it such a problem with local council pool, but I do blast all our ears with hairdryer.