Outer ear infection Symptoms

When to seek medical advice
... Make an appointment with your doctor if you have pain or swelling in your ear or drainage from your ear. Swimmer''s ear is not usually an emergency, but it is important to see a doctor right away if y...

Screening and diagnosis
... To examine the inside of your ear, your doctor may use a lighted instrument (otoscope). The inside of your ear and your ear canal may appear red and swollen. Your ear canal also may appear scaly, with...

Outer ear infection Prevention

Prevention
... Follow these tips to avoid swimmer''s ear: Dry your ears thoroughly after exposure to moisture from swimming or bathing. Dry only your outer ear slowly and gently with a soft towel or cloth. Never ins...

Outer ear infection Treatment

Complications
... Swimmer''s ear usually isn''t serious, but complications can occur if it isn''t treated. Complications may include: Hearing loss. Muffled hearing almost always lasts only until the infection is gone. ...

Treatment
... The goal of treating swimmer''s ear is to clear up the infection. Treatment may include: Cleaning. Clearing your outer ear and ear canal of any drainage and flaky skin allows topical medications to wo...