Prevention and self care advice

For people who are prone to recurrent OE, pharmacy teams can recommend the following self care advice to customers:

• Avoid damage to the external ear canal: cotton buds or other objects should not be used to clean the ear canal
• • If earwax is a problem associated with OE and ear drops do not clear it, seek professional advice and have it removed safely to avoid damaging the ear canal
  • Have ears cleaned periodically if flaky or scaly, or if there is excessive earwax
  • Regular use (i.e. weekly) of olive oil or proprietary wax drops to reduce wax build-up (which may trap water) can also be helpful

• Keep the ears clean and dry:
  • Dry ears are unlikely to become infected, so it is important to keep the ears free of moisture during swimming or bathing and to tip out any liquid after swimming/bathing
  • Use ear plugs and/or a tight-fitting cap when swimming. People with an acute episode of otitis externa should abstain from water sports for at least seven to 10 days
  • Use a hair dryer (at the lowest heat setting) to dry the ear canal after hair washing, bathing or swimming
  • Keep shampoo, soap and water out of the ears when bathing and showering
  • Ensure skin conditions that are associated with the development of otitis externa are well controlled:
  • If the person is allergic or sensitive to ear plugs, hearing aids or earrings, they should avoid them or use alternatives (e.g. hypoallergenic hearing aids)
  • If the person has a chronic skin condition (e.g. eczema or psoriasis), they should ensure that this is managed well
  • Consider using acidifying ear drops or spray, such as acetic acid, shortly before swimming, after swimming and at bedtime. These ear preparations are available to purchase OTC.