Swimming is simultaneously fun, relaxing and provides excellent exercise for people of all ages. However, spending time in the water can cause a painful condition called swimmer’s ear.
Symptoms of Swimmer’s Ear
The symptoms of swimmer’s ear start with mild itching in the ear, maybe redness and some drainage. As the symptoms worsen, pain in-or-around the ear increases. A person often has a sense of the ear being full, the outer ear may be red and a person’s hearing becomes muffled.
When the symptoms are mild, it can be bothersome, but, left untreated, the condition can progress to:
- intense pain
- swelling of the lymph nodes
- infection drainage
- scaly skin on the outer ear.
Severe cases of swimmer’s ear or multiple infections can lead to hearing loss.
Why Use Ear Plugs To Protect Against Swimmer’s Ear Infections
Ear protection with foam ear plugs is important to the health of your ears — especially for swimmers. Interestingly, the evolution of our ears has two natural forms of protection. First, the shape of the ear canal slopes downward to allow moisture to drain. Secondly, the ear provides protection by creating cerumen, or ear wax. Ear wax helps to repel water. Ear wax is also acidic which protects against bacteria by making the environment unfriendly for infections to grow.
Because swimming can overload the system and cause otitis, or otitis externa, commonly referred to as swimmer’s ear, the best defense against this condition is to keep the ears dry while swimming.
Best Ear Plugs For Swimmers
Using silicone or plastic ear plugs that are made specifically for swimming will protect against swimmer’s ear. Ear plugs made of silicon and plastic are designed to keep water out of the ear canal. The reusable ear plugs should be used instead of wax earplugs. Wax melts in the heat and can either lodge in the ear or not seal correctly. In particular, silicone works well for ear plugs because it shapes to the ear canal and seals out the water.
HEAROS makes two different types of waterproof ear plugs — Water Protection Series and Silicone Ear Plugs.
Ear Plug Caution For Swimmers
Some caution should be used when wearing swimming ear plugs to further protect the swimmer. Most importantly, waterproof ear plugs should never be shared with anyone else as germs and other biological contaminants can transfer from one user to the next. Also, you should follow the guidelines from the manufacturer on when to replace the ear plugs.
To Buy HEAROS Ear Plugs To Protect Against Swimmer’s Ear
If you would like to purchase HEAROS ear plugs to protect against swimmer’s ear, please click one of the two links below:
