Chances are high that if you’re a traveling surfer, you’ve not only seen plenty of beautiful surf spots but also more than your fair share of beautiful (and ugly) hospitals. We get hurt a lot. Fin cuts, reef cuts, abrasions, concussions, ear infections, other sorts of infections… you name it.
Injuries and illnesses are almost part of the package when you’re chasing your next wave. And outer ear infections (otitis externa) are a common issue, not just for surfers. They often happen in warm climates where fungi live, multiplying rapidly in your outer ear canal.
Symptoms of ear infection from surfing
It often starts with a slight pain on the outside of your ear. When you press it, it feels tender. Within a day, or even just a few hours, it can start to feel blocked, and your hearing becomes muffled. The pain intensifies, now coming from inside the ear.
If you already have wax or debris in your ear canal and the fungi start to party even harder, the pain can become excruciating. So much so that you might feel like pulling a Van Gogh. It’s even worse if both ears are infected.
This is what you might notice when you have an ear infection, or swimmer’s ear:
- Pain or tenderness: Your ear may hurt when you touch it, chew, or lie down.
- Muffled hearing: Sounds may seem quieter, like there’s water trapped inside.
- Itchiness or irritation: The skin inside your ear canal can feel inflamed or sensitive.
- Redness or swelling: Your ear might look red or swollen, and feel warm to the touch.
- Fluid or discharge: Sometimes water, pus, or even blood can come out of the ear.
- Other signs: Dizziness, ringing in the ears, or a mild fever in more serious cases.
For surfers, outer ear infections often start with a little itch and can quickly become painful if water or debris gets trapped. Catching it early and keeping your ears dry can save you a lot of discomfort.
My lessons learned
A few years ago, when I was still living in Indonesia, I had both ears infected five times in five months. I’ve become an amateur expert on Indonesian hospitals. At one point, they had to suction both of my ears. Trust me, that’s not something you want to experience on your holiday. Or ever.
Stupidly, I ended up taking five rounds of antibiotics, not just in pill form but also as ear drops called Otopain. I should have known better, but the pain was so intense I would have tried anything.
When that inevitably wrecked my gut health, I started researching natural ways to prevent and treat ear infections (as well as how to get my gut back to normal, but that’s a story for another time).
By the way, I’m not a doctor (in case that wasn’t obvious) so I’m only sharing my personal experience here. That said, the advice below (which I now follow) is based on an article written by two surfing doctors about preventing and treating ear infections caused by surfing or swimming.
You can find that article at Surfingdoctors.com.
1. Use earplugs
Better late than never. I was already using them, but half-heartedly. I know earplugs can be annoying, but they’re so necessary. Actually, they’re not even that annoying—you just have to get used to not hearing much in the water. They’re even more important if you surf in cold water because cold-water surfers risk developing surfer’s ear.
As described by medical specialists Bart Willems and Christo Oosthuizen in their article on surfer’s ear:
“(…)a condition in which there is bony overgrowth of the external ear canal caused by repeated exposure to cold, wet conditions. It is so prevalent in the surfing community that we even got the naming rights – Surfer’s ear. Surfer’s ear also occurs in other disciplines that get their ears cold and wet. In the long term it can cause the canal to narrow, which in turn causes water to become trapped and increases the risk of infection and hearing loss.”
You might think this only happens to other surfers. You’re different. You’re not surfing every day, you wear a cap in winter, and you’ve never had ear problems… until you do.
What earplugs to use when surfing
I’ve surfed with people who get earplugs specially molded to their ears for $100, and then lose them in wipeouts. I’ve tried different types of special surfing earplugs and swimming earplugs. I’ve lost almost all of them in the water.
Finally, after my fifth (and final) ear infection in Sumbawa, I met an Australian surfer who gave me a strip of her “earplugs”: Blu Tack. And that’s the one that stuck with me (pun intended).
Blu Tack is usually used to stick posters on walls. It’s an office accessory, not an earplug. But you can turn it into one. You can mold it, shape it, tear it apart, and put it back together. It’s incredibly cheap (around $2 for a strip that lasts at least six months of daily surfing).
It sticks to anything, including your skin. I’ve never lost one, and you can reuse it for a few weeks (that’s what my doctor said). It blocks your ear canal almost completely, so no water can get in. If you want to hear more, just reshape it to create a little space for sound.
It’s even recommended by those same two medical specialists, and I haven’t experienced any negative side effects so far. For some reason, lots of Australian surfers use it, and I honestly don’t understand why some people still spend a fortune on “professional” earplugs.
2. Disinfect your ears with rubbing alcohol and white vinegar
Again, recommended by the two doctors: using a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar after every surf session helps prevent ear infections:
“The condition can be partially prevented by keeping the ears dry by using earplugs. If your ears do get wet, a couple of drops of a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and white vinegar (50%:50%; 1:1) can be instilled into the ear. The volatility of the alcohol dries the ear and causes bacterial death and the acidic vinegar inhibits bacterial and fungal growth. Ensure that you can feel the drops reach deep into the canal.”
3. Use a hair dryer to dry your ears
When my fifth ear infection finally cleared, I started surfing again. After every session, I poured the alcohol/vinegar mix into my ears and then dried them further with a hair dryer.
An infection-free year later, I’ve stopped using the hair dryer daily and only use it when I feel there’s more water in my ear than usual. But if you have an infection right now (and stubbornly keep surfing), get a hair dryer and blow those ears dry.
4. Put a couple of drops of olive oil in your ears before surfing
From the same article:
“It is also recommended to instill a couple of drops of mineral oil or olive oil into your ear before you go surfing. The oil will form a protective layer over the sensitive skin, protecting it from dirty water.”
I’ve stopped doing this, because it affects the stickiness of my Blu Tack. Still, if you’re struggling with irritated skin in your outer ear canal, it might be worth trying.
In short
Surfing should be about catching waves, not catching ear infections. Protect your ears with earplugs (or Blu Tack), keep them dry with a mix of rubbing alcohol and vinegar, and use a hair dryer if needed. Olive oil can add an extra layer of protection for sensitive skin.