Swimmers ear The ear canal is the tube that ends at the eardrum.
This is where wax build-up occurs. When the ear canal is exposed to water from baths or swimming, the ear canal which is simply skin, may become infected with bacteria. The canal may appear red and swollen. The main symptom is pain with movement of the ear or touching the ear or pushing on the area in front the ear. This is commonly called an outer ear infection, swimmer's ear or otitis externa.