After several days in a row of beach or pool, it’s not unusual for an ear to start hurting, worse when you tug the earlobe or chew. This is swimmer’s ear — otitis externa, medically — and it has a very specific cause: water trapped in the ear canal softens the skin and creates the perfect environment for bacteria or fungi to grow.
Why it happens, and why in summer
The ear has its own defence mechanism: earwax protects the canal and normally keeps it slightly acidic, an environment hostile to microbes. Swimming several times a day, often in water that isn’t always clean, washes away that protection faster than it can regenerate — and that’s where the problem starts.
How to prevent it
- Dry your ears well after every swim, tilting your head to each side and gently pulling the earlobe to help trapped water drain out.
- Don’t use cotton buds to dry the inside — they push wax deeper and can scratch the skin, which is exactly what opens the door to infection.
- A hairdryer on cool, held at a distance, helps clear residual water without irritating the canal.
- Silicone swim earplugs, if you’ve had swimmer’s ear before or swim several times a day.
- If you swim a lot, over-the-counter drying drops with alcohol and acetic acid after swimming keep the canal dry and the pH acidic — ask us whether they’d suit you.
What helps in the meantime
Mild pain and a blocked feeling, without fever, usually settle with a regular painkiller and keeping the ear dry until it improves. Don’t put anything inside the ear — no cotton buds, no home oils, no drops other than ones we’ve recommended — while you don’t know whether the eardrum is intact.
When this needs a doctor
Established swimmer’s ear almost always needs prescription antibiotic drops — it isn’t something over-the-counter products alone resolve. See a doctor if:
- The pain is intense or getting worse rather than better
- You notice discharge or pus coming from the ear
- There’s fever
- You notice reduced hearing on that side
- The pain spreads to the jaw or neck, or there’s visible swelling around the ear
Go to a medical centre without delay, or call 112 if there’s also severe dizziness or the pain started after a blow to the head.
At Farmàcia Arqué
No appointment needed. We’ll advise on prevention, recommend the right drying drops if you’re going to be in the water for several days, and tell you if what you have already needs medical assessment. We’re at Passeig de Miramar 72, on Ponent Beach, and we speak Spanish, Catalan, English and French.
Outside our opening hours, the duty pharmacy in Salou covers the 24-hour shift.
This article is for information only and does not replace assessment by a healthcare professional for a specific symptom. Persistent ear pain or discharge needs medical assessment, not prolonged self-treatment. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — swimmer’s ear, Spanish Paediatric Association (AEP), MedlinePlus (NIH).