If you experience these symptoms or if glands in the neck become swollen, see your doctor. If your ear feels moist or blocked after swimming, hairwashing, or showering, tilt your head sideways with that ear up, pull the ear upward and backward to put in eardrops to dry out the ear. Wiggle your ear to get the drops all the way down in the ear canal, and then turn your head to let them drain out. If you have an ear infection, have had a perforated or otherwise injured eardrum, or ear surgery, you should consult an ear, nose, and throat specialist before swimming or using any type of ear drops. If your doctor says it is safe, make up your own ear drops to use after swimming.
Many doctors recommend rubbing alcohol as part of the mixture.
As the alcohol evaporates, it absorbs the water, helps dry out the ear, and may even kill the bacteria and fungi that cause swimmer s ear. A weak acid environment discourages the growth of bacteria and fungi. A dry ear is least likely to get infected. Efforts to remove water from your ear should be limited to the drying effects of alcohol or, if you have a perforated eardrum, a hair dryer. People with itchy, flaky ears or ears that have wax build up are very likely to develop swimmer s ear.