Swimmer’s Ear or External Otitis
(Outer Ear Infections)

Swimmer’s ear is an infection of the outer ear canal that is commonly associated with any activity where swimming is involved. The truth of the matter is that you can contract this form of an outer ear infection from anything that causes water to be introduced into the ear canal.  The Sahara DryEar ear dryer was designed to specifically address the problem of moisture or water that gets trapped in the outer ear canal.  By simply circulating safe, warm, dry air in the outer ear canal, the ear dryer dries the ear and helps fight against outer ear infections such as Swimmers Ear which is medically known as external otitis or otitis externa.  Simply put, we are referring to an outer (external) ear infection (otitis.)

The Infection Defined:  Swimmer’s Ear (external otitis) occurs in the outer ear canal which is the area of the ear from the ear drum out.  The ear canal is lined with skin just as the outer ear is and harbors microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, just as the rest of our body’s skin does.  If water or moisture is allowed to remain in the ear canal the microorganisms present have the opportunity to thrive and grow.  This creates the infection know as external otitis.  When this results from swimming or showers it is called swimmers ear.  These infections cause pain, swelling, redness, and drainage from the ear canal.  The pain can be very severe and the swelling can completely close the ear canal and result in hearing loss.  If the infection is untreated it can spread to the outer ear and facial skin; this is referred to as cellulitis.  In rare cases the bone around the ear canal may become infected and result in osteomyelitis, or malignant external otitis.  Cellulitis and malignant external otitis are life threatening if untreated.

Treating Swimmer’s Ear:  Swimmer’s ear is most often treated with antibiotics.  These come in the form of ear drops, powders, oral preparations, and in more severe infections intravenous infusions. Typical cases will resolve within seven to ten days, however more severe cases may last weeks, months, and even years. Malignant external otitis most frequently requires surgical treatment and carries a ten to twenty percent mortality rate no matter how it is treated.

Preventing Swimmer’s Ear:  As previously explained, the infection is the result of bacteria and fungi taking hold and growing into an infection.  In order for that to happen there has to be moisture or water present.  The most full proof defense against this is to make sure that your ears are dry after swimming and bathing.  Previously this required shaking of the head, jumping up and down and tugging on the ear in hopes of getting the water out of the ear.  Even then you had to wait for the ear to finish drying on its own.  With the advent of the Sahara DryEar rechargeable ear dryer, you can now dry your ear canals thoroughly, safely and immediately after you finish swimming or bathing.  By keeping your ears dry, the microorganisms that need moisture to grow are all dried up.  Other preventative methods include the use of ear drops, (annoying) Q-tips (dangerous) and hair dryers (very dangerous and relatively ineffective.)