"Unraveling the Mystery of Water in Your Ear: Effective Techniques for Removal"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Livescience.com
Water can get stuck in your ear when swimming, using earbuds, or wearing hearing aids. It can become trapped in the ear canal, especially if the canal is small or if there is a buildup of earwax. This can create a moist environment that encourages bacterial or yeast growth, leading to swimmer's ear or otitis externa. To prevent water from getting stuck, you can use a hairdryer on a low setting, over-the-counter drying drops, custom ear molds, or a cotton ball with petroleum jelly. The CDC recommends towel-drying the ears and tilting the head back and forth after swimming. It's important to remove the water promptly to avoid infection.