Avoid Swimmer's Ear This Summer

Swimmer’s ear is another name for otitis externa – an infection of the outer ear canal. It is commonly called swimmer’s ear as it can occur after frequent swimming. External ear infections result when there is bacterial (sometimes viral or fungal) overgrowth in the ear canal that is normally controlled by ear wax.

The health of our ear canal is normally regulated by ear wax. When someone swims, particularly in chlorinated water, it can change the normal consistency of the ear wax, ultimately impacting the pH balance. This can increase the risk for bacteria (and other organisms) to take over the normally healthy ear canal.

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of ear infections (as a result of swimming, at least) is to wear earplugs when you’re in the water. Not only do earplugs help prevent ear infections, they can also keep the temperature in your ear canal stable so you don’t get dizzy. The best part? You can get custom-made, floatable earplugs from your audiologist that come in all colours and fit your ears perfectly.