游泳者的耳朵是外耳感染(also called otitis externa) that’s commonly caused by moisture. When water remains in the ear (such as after swimming), it can establish a damp environment that supports bacterial growth.

Swimmer’s ear is typically treated with prescription ear drops. The most commonly prescribed drops combine a corticosteroid to calm inflammation with either an antibiotic or acetic acid.

如果感染是由真菌引起的，您的医生可以开出抗真菌耳朵滴，而不是抗生素耳朵滴。

典型的治疗通常涉及每天将耳朵掉落3或4次，持续5天。申请说明将根据处方而有所不同，您应该遵循医生的具体建议。

随着处方耳朵的下降，您的症状通常会在24小时内提高，并在两三天内消失。

OTC (over-the-counter) ear drops, commonly containing isopropyl alcohol and glycerin, often focus on helping the ear dry out quicker as opposed to fighting the infection.

OTC止痛药

If your discomfort level is high, your doctor might recommend OTC pain relievers, such asacetaminophen (Tylenol),ibuprofen (Advil), or萘普生（Aleve）to address any discomfort your swimmer’s ear might be causing.

这些是减轻疼痛的症状，而不是解决问题本身。

根据专家的说法 , prescription ear drops containing antibiotics or steroids are more effective for otitis externa than OTC disinfectant ear drops. There’s lacking evidence that OTC ear drops will effectively treat swimmer’s ear.

为了防止自己获得游泳者的耳朵，或者一旦开始处方耳朵滴，关键是要保持耳朵尽可能干燥。

To do this:

  • When swimming, use a swim cap that covers your ears.
  • 游泳后，毛巾毛巾，头发和耳朵干燥。
  • 洗澡或淋浴时使用软耳塞。
  • 使用产品（例如染发剂和发胶）时，将棉球（或其他耳道保护）放在耳朵中。

Protecting ear canal skin

Avoid damaging the thin layer of skin that lines the ear canal by being careful with:

  • scratching
  • headphones
  • cotton swabs

If the skin is scratched, it’s open for infection.

预防性治疗

一些建议将1份白醋与1份混合擦酒，以帮助干燥并停止细菌和真菌生长。

The recommended dosage is pouring 1 teaspoon of the mixture into each ear and then letting it drain back out.

人们认为，酒精与耳道中过多的水结合在一起，在蒸发时将其除去。醋的酸度不鼓励细菌的生长。

This mixture is similar in both ingredients and function to many of the available OTC swimmer’s ear drops.

Typically mild, the symptoms of swimmer’s ear can worsen if the infection isn’t treated.

症状可能包括：

  • 发红
  • itching
  • warmth
  • fluid drainage(odorless and clear)
  • 不舒服(intensified when the area near the ear canal is touched)
  • muffled hearing

If you have one or all of these symptoms, call your doctor. If you also have severe pain or develop afever，寻求立即的医疗帮助。

如果你有一个条件,让你更加susceptible to infections, such asdiabetes，您可以开发出一种严重的游泳者耳朵，称为malignant otitis externa.

Malignant otitis externa requires immediate hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. If you know you have higher risk and develop swimmer’s ear symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

Your doctor will have some suggestions for the best method for getting ear drops into your ear.

Some技术包括：

  • 躺下。躺在您的身边，被感染的耳朵针对天花板。这可以帮助滴剂到达耳道的全长。
  • 温暖下降。Holding the bottle for a few minutes in your closed hand can get the drops near body temperature, reducing any discomfort from cold drops.
  • Ask for help.Since they can see your ear, somebody else should be able to put the drops in your ear with greater ease and precision.

Swimmer’s ear can be an uncomfortable infection. The sooner it’s treated, the less likely there will be complications.

Prescription swimmer’s ear drops are the preferred method for treating the infection. See your doctor if you have swimmer’s ear symptoms such as:

  • 不舒服
  • 发红
  • itching
  • muffled hearing

Over-the-counter (OTC) and homemade drops can be part of a prevention program that includes other ways of keeping water out of your ears, such as earplugs and swim caps.