Swimmer's ear is a type of ear infection. Infection occurs in the ear canal. Because the ear canal is dark, warm and moist, it provides the perfect environment for the growth of water-loving bacteria and fungi.
It is called swimmer's ear because it mostly affects people who spend a lot of time in the water, such as swimmers.
What Conditions Cause Swimmer's Ear Disease?
Conditions that can cause swimmer's ear include:
• Water trapped in the ear canal due to swimming or frequent showering.
• Loss of earwax - a natural protector - due to too much water entering the ear canal or removing too much water when cleaning the ears
• Ear injury caused by inserting objects such as fingers, pens, paper clips, hairpins into the ear
• Swimming in dirty water
• Skin conditions affecting the ear canal, such as eczema or psoriasis
How Is Swimming Ear Disease Treated?
For swimmer's ear disease, you can use the antibiotics that he or she will recommend by consulting the doctor. You can also benefit from the oil of plantain leaf or rosemary oil, which is good for your ear. The antibiotic components of these two plants help to clean the harmful bacteria in and around the ear. You can support the health of your ears, especially by using rosemary oil in the summer months.
What Are the Symptoms of Swimmer's Ear Disease?
• Ear pain: pain that often worsens when the outer ear is pulled or stepped on; the pain may intensify and radiate to the side of the face where the affected ear is
• Itching in the ear canal
• Foul-smelling or colored (yellow, yellow/green) pus oozing from the ear