What Causes Swimmer's Ear?

Wounds In The Ear Canal

A wound in the ear canal is another widespread cause for swimmer's ear. Open wounds leave the body susceptible to invading bacteria and can lead to infection. One of the key preventative methods for swimmer's ear for those with wounds in the ear canal is to avoid swimming and other water activities until the wound is completely healed. When taking a shower, individuals with ear canal wounds should take heed in carefully and thoroughly drying their ear with a soft cloth or towel. The keyword is careful, as one does not want to instigate further damage to the ear canal.

Cleaning Ear Canal Aggressively

Cleaning the ear canal aggressively can lead to cuts and other damage, increasing the risk of a bacterial infection. Using cotton swabs and other devices increase the risk for damage, as pushing the swab in too far can damage the eardrum and also cause earwax impaction, while the rough texture of the cotton can scratch the skin. Also, the ears do not need to be cleaned too often, as the buildup of wax helps to protect the eardrum from external contaminants. Experts state nothing should be inserted into the ear canal during cleaning and ears should only be cleaned if the wax is secreted into the outer ear. Nurses at a doctor's office can easily clean excess wax out of a patient's ear in a safe manner.