Condition guide
Swimmer's Ear: What It Is and How to Treat It
Swimmer's ear (otitis externa) is an infection of the outer ear canal, usually from water that stays trapped after swimming and lets bacteria grow. The giveaway is ear pain that gets noticeably worse when you tug your earlobe or push on the little flap in front of the ear — along with itching, drainage, and muffled hearing. It's common on beach and lake trips, very treatable, and usually needs prescription ear drops to clear quickly.
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What it is
Understanding swimmer's ear
- It's an infection of the ear-canal skin — different from a middle-ear infection (the kind kids get with colds), which sits behind the eardrum.
- Trapped moisture, and anything that scratches the canal (cotton swabs, earbuds, fingernails), let bacteria or fungus take hold.
- Swimmers, humid climates, and people who use earbuds or hearing aids are most prone to it.
Symptoms
- Ear pain that worsens when you pull the earlobe or press the tragus (the flap in front of the canal)
- Itching inside the ear canal
- Clear, or later cloudy/pus-like, drainage
- A plugged or muffled-hearing sensation, and redness or swelling of the canal
What helps
Treating swimmer's ear at home
- 1Keep the ear dry — no swimming or submerging until it heals, and dry the ear gently after showers.
- 2Over-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) help with discomfort.
- 3Do NOT put cotton swabs, fingers, or anything else in the ear — it makes it worse.
- 4Prevention for next time: dry ears thoroughly after swimming, tip the head to drain each ear, and consider over-the-counter drying drops if you're not prone to complications.
When to see a doctor — or call 911
- Severe pain, or pain with a fever.
- Swelling or redness spreading to the outer ear, face, or neck.
- You have diabetes or a weakened immune system — swimmer's ear can occasionally become a serious deep-tissue infection that needs urgent in-person care.
- Sudden hearing loss, or drainage that looks bloody.
This page is general information, not a substitute for a medical evaluation. If you think you're having an emergency, call 911.
How Vacation Medicine helps
See a real doctor today — from wherever you are.
- A board-certified physician can evaluate the symptoms over a same-day video visit and, when appropriate, prescribe antibiotic (or antibiotic-steroid) ear drops sent to your pharmacy — the treatment that actually clears it.
- They'll also tell you how to keep the ear dry and when it's safe to get back in the water.
- If the exam suggests something that needs an in-person look (like a badly swollen canal that won't take drops), we'll point you to the right care — and per our honest-care guarantee, the visit's free.
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Swimmer's Ear, answered.
What's the difference between swimmer's ear and a regular ear infection?
Swimmer's ear is in the outer ear canal and hurts when you tug the ear; a middle-ear infection sits behind the eardrum and usually follows a cold. The treatments differ, which is why it's worth having a doctor confirm which one it is.
Can swimmer's ear go away on its own?
Mild cases sometimes settle with dry-ear care, but most clear much faster and more reliably with prescription ear drops — and untreated infections can worsen.
Can I get ear drops prescribed online?
Yes. When it's a clear fit, our physicians can prescribe ear drops over a same-day video visit and send them to any pharmacy near you.
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