When the infection gets to this stage, a doctor's treatment is needed. This is also true if glands in the neck become swollen. However, the entire sequence of events can be easily prevented if you use antiseptic eardrops whenever you feel that water is trapped in your ears. Such eardrops are inexpensive and are sold without prescription under various trade names such as Aqua Ear , Ear Magic , Swim Ear , etc. If your ear doctor says you have normal eardrums, and it he says it is safe, you could make up your own eardrops to use after swimming.
Many doctors recommend rubbing alcohol as an important ingredient.
It absorbs the water, helps dry out the ear, and may even kill the bacteria and fungi that cause swimmer's ear. Another effective ingredient is white vinegar, which you could mix half and half with the alcohol. Your druggist can supply you with a dropper bottle for your alcohol or alcohol-vinegar mix eardrops so you can keep them in your beach bag. If your ear feels moist or blocked after swimming, hairwashing, showering etc. Wiggle your ear to get the drops to go all the way down in, and then turn your head to let them drain out.