Swimmer’s ear can come on suddenly and last for a short-term or long-term duration.
Treating swimmer’s earusually requiresear drops.
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How Do Swimmers Ear Drops Help?
Nes / Getty Images
Swimmer’s ear drops help to:
Swimmer’s Ear: When Is It Urgent?
A healthcare provider or a pharmacist will prescribe these types of ear drops.
Common brand names include:
Antifungal ear drops kill fungus in the ear.
Corticosteroids help with swelling and irritation.
Ear drops that remove wax are a gentle way to loosen wax and debris.
However, you should not use them if your ear canal is damaged.
Most cases of swimmer’s ear should improve in about three days.
Besides Drops, What Else Treats Swimmers Ear?
Additional or alternative treatments for swimmer’s ear can depend on severity.
If the ear canal has become swollen, see a healthcare provider.
They can insert the drops using a wick.
Applying ear drops might require wax or pus removal so the drops reach the ear effectively.
A specialist can do this with the use of a gentle suction machine.
Most cases of swimmer’s ear disappear on their own in about three days.
Swimmer’s ear drops contain antibiotics or antifungals to treat the infection.
Some ear drop prescriptions also include OTC corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and improve overall irritation or discomfort.
Wax-removing ear drops can help gently remove wax.
Alternatives to swimmer’s ear drops include warm oils and water-based wax removal kits to remove wax gently.
Pain relievers or oral antibiotics may also prove necessary if an ear infection is severe.
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Here’s some advice for ear wax removal.
Here are 5 remedies you’re free to do at home.
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