Wild swimming seems to be everywhere at the moment. From Three Shires Head in the Peak District to the Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall, Brits are turning out in droves to unwind and enjoy the fresh water during the many heatwaves this summer.

Certain locations in London, like Hampstead Heath Bathing Ponds, West Reservoir Centre in Hackney and Beckenham Place Park Lake in Lewisham, even require booking to access during peak times. The hobby has also gained traction on social media, with 54K posts with #wildswimming and 12.3K posts with #wildswimminguk.

With certain areas of the UK expected to see temperatures above 30C before summer is over, more Brits will look to enjoy wild swimming, so experts at Boots Hearingcare are warning swimmers to educate themselves about the symptoms of ‘swimmer’s ear’.

The NHS estimates that one in 10 of us will suffer from swimmer’s ear, which is also known as "otitis externa,” and you’re more likely to be affected if you swim in fresh water, as it contains more bacteria than a pool.

To help, Karen Shepard, an expert audiologist at Boots Hearingcare, explains how swimmer’s ear is caused and shares his top tips to prevent it.

How does swimmer’s ear differ from a middle ear infection?

Swimmer's ear is different from other ear infections since it’s located in the outer ear canal. It is caused by water which remains in the ear, typically trapped behind bends or recesses in your ear canal after swimming, bathing, or sweating. This moisture and warmth of the body aid the bacteria or fungi from open water to grow. As it makes the ear itchy and uncomfortable, people scratch the ear or use cotton buds, which can break the skin and cause the infection. Other ear infections more commonly happen further into the ear behind the eardrum; the middle ear is connected to the back of the nose and throat.

What is the main treatment for swimmer’s ear?

If you’ve been diagnosed with swimmer’s ear, there are things you can do to ease the symptoms, starting with taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the pain of inflammation. Holding a warm towel to your ear can also soothe the discomfort, but it's important you don’t put anything in the ear canal and keep it dry.

To clear the infection quickly, you may be prescribed ear drops which contain an antibiotic, steroid and/or antifungal medicine.

Flumetasone is a topical steroid that treats inflammation. Clioquinol is an antibacterial and antifungal medicine that treats the germs causing the infection.

During treatment, it's important to keep your ears dry and clear. Don’t go swimming until the infection has completely cleared, avoid wearing headsets or earbuds in the infected ear, if reliant on hearing aids, try to restrict wearing time in order to allow optimal ventilation to the ear. You can speak with your audiologist about vented ear insert options or less occluded fits if this is aggravating the situation.

It is advisable to stop water entering the ears when infected. A simple method is to use a cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly to protect your ear during a shower or bath to stop water from entering the ear canal; however, ideally it is best practice if vulnerable to swimmers ears to use custom-made swim moulds.

Can swimmer’s ear be prevented?

To prevent future swimmer’s ear infections, after your infection has cleared, you should stop water from entering the ear canal and generally keep your ears as dry as possible. Wear a swimming cap or earplugs while swimming, and avoid getting your ears wet when having a bath or shower. The best protection is to use custom-made swimmer earmolds; these accurately fit your ears. Your audiologist is able to take impressions of your ears (once they are healed) to get these made for you. After swimming or water exposure, always dry the visible part of your ears and try to give your head a shake to dislodge trapped water and leave ears open to allow the canal to air dry.

The skin in your ear canal is very thin. Avoid trying to use cotton buds, hair grips, and pen lids (we see it all) to scratch or remove wax; these can damage the lining of the ear, making it vulnerable to infections. Seek advice from your audiologist or pharmacist if you are vulnerable to itchy ears, wax or swimmer's ear.

What does swimmer’s ear feel like?

The key symptoms of swimmer’s ear include:
A blocked ear or feeling of pressure in the ear

Itching and discomfort in and around the ear canal

Dry or flaky skin outside the ear

Pain, which can become more severe when moving your jaw or touching your outer ear

Muffled or reduced hearing

Fluid or push draining from the ear

Redness, swelling or tenderness of the outer ear
“Typically, due to anatomical differences or exposure whilst swimming, swimmer’s ear affects one ear at a time, but it is possible to feel symptoms across both. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

How do I know if it’s swimmer’s ear or an ear infection?

“When it comes to symptoms, there are some key differences between swimmer’s ear and an ear infection. With swimmer’s ear it will look red and the pain tends to be located near the opening and can also feel itchy and swollen. If you have a middle ear infection, the pain is much deeper inside the ear, behind the eardrum. This generally feels like a deep pressure sensation, and you’ll likely experience muffled hearing. In some cases, you may also develop a fever and feel generally unwell.

When should I see a doctor?

“In most instances, the trapped water will drain out without intervention after a few hours. However, if it doesn’t get better and you begin to feel any signs of a developing ear infection, then I would recommend seeing your doctor for treatment or expert advice. Boots Online Doctor is able to help and prescribe drops or in England Pharmacists are able to prescribe under their Adult Ear Ache Service,

For more information on Boots Hearingcare, click here.