How to prevent and treat Swimmer’s Ear: top tips from the swimming community
Swimmer’s Ear is a common ear infection that afflicts wild swimmers and pool swimmers. In our recent survey we asked about your experience of Swimmer’s Ear, including how to prevent and treat the infection
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While no one can deny the many benefits of swimming, it can come with some drawbacks, such as Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa) – an infection of the outer ear.
This infection is usually caused by bacteria entering the ear canal, especially if you regularly get water in your ear, such as when swimming.
Symptoms usually include ear pain, swelling of the ear canal and occasionally decreased hearing.
Our survey says!
In a recent survey on Instagram (conducted March 2025), we asked our followers about their experience of swimming-related ear infections. Eleven people took part in the survey – here are some key findings…
It’s a common problem: Nine out of our 11 respondents have experienced Swimmer’s Ear
Wear ear plugs!: 5/11 of our respondents said they wear ear plugs while swimming to prevent infection. Others also said they tried olive oil spray as a water barrier.
Indoor and outdoor swimming: Most associate pool swimming with an increased likelihood of ear infections, while some say it’s more likely with outdoor swimming.
It it seasonal?: Most of our respondents don’t think Swimmer’s Ear is associated with a certain time of year – they’ve experienced infections all year round.
How to prevent and treat Swimmer’s Ear
As advised by experts and our readers, Swimmer’s Ear can be prevented by wearing ear plugs and a swimming cap while swimming.
If you do get an infection, it’s best to avoid swimming and keep your ear dry while you are treating the infection. Tempting though it is to use ear buds to clean the ears, this could worsen the infection, so is best avoided.
A handy antibacterial spray
EarCalm have introduced a spray that can be used without prescription to treat symptoms as soon as they appear. The spray’s active ingredient is acetic acid, an antibacterial agent that targets the bacteria causing the infection, helping to relieve pain and inflammation.
A few of our survey respondents say they have used EarCalm to treat their Swimmer’s Ear and they all gave positive feedback about how the spray relieved their symptoms.
“I’ve been using EarCalm for the first time this year after a recommendation from a friend, and nothing has progressed beyond a slight soreness in the ear. No ear infections yet, which is amazing!”
EarCalm Spray is used for the treatment of minor infections of the outer ear in adults and children aged 12 and over.
It contains an antibacterial ingredient called acetic acid that helps clear these infections.
Acetic acid works to prevent the growth of bacteria which can cause outer ear infections, which in turn helps to calm and relieve uncomfortable symptoms such as pain and inflammation.
Earcalm Spray is used for the treatment of minor infections of the outer ear. It contains the active ingredient acetic acid, an antibacterial agent that targets the bacteria causing the infection, helping to relieve the symptoms. Always read the label.
If over-the-counter treatments are not working and your symptoms do not improve in 7 days, then you should consult your GP for an alternative treatment.
Find out more about EarCalm at earcalm.co.uk
Abigail Whyte
Abi writes swimming news stories and features for the Outdoor Swimmer website and manages the social media channels. She loves to swim, run, hike and SUP close to her home in Herefordshire. While she’s a keen wild swimmer, Abi is new to the world of open water events and recently completed her first open water mile. She has previously written for The Guardian, BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC History Magazine and Ernest Journal.
