A few days after a trip to the pool, your ear starts to itch. Then it aches, feels blocked, and hurts when you touch it. That is the classic pattern of swimmer’s ear, an outer ear infection that peaks every summer as more of us swim, paddle, and travel. The good news is that swimmer’s ear is largely preventable, and June is the right time to get ahead of it. Here is what causes it, how to spot it early, and what keeps your ears comfortable through the warmer months in Leicester and beyond.

What Causes Swimmer’s Ear in the First Place?

The medical name is otitis externa, an inflamed ear canal. The canal is the narrow passage between the outer ear and the eardrum. When water sits there after swimming or showering, it softens the skin and washes away the protective layer of natural wax. Bacteria then have a warm, damp place to multiply.

Pool water, lake water, and seawater can all trigger it, which is why cases climb sharply between June and August. According to the NHS guidance on otitis externa, around one in 10 people will experience it at some point, so this is a genuinely common problem rather than a rare holiday mishap.

Heat and humidity make things worse. On a summer break you may be swimming daily, sweating more, and wearing earbuds on the flight, all of which keep the ear canal moist and irritated.

Early Signs You Should Not Ignore

Swimmer’s ear usually starts with itching inside the ear canal. Within a day or two you may notice redness, a feeling of fullness, discomfort when you pull on the earlobe, and sometimes a watery discharge. Hearing can become muffled as the canal swells.

Mild irritation often settles once the ear is kept dry for a few days. If pain is building, your hearing has dropped noticeably, or there is discharge, see a pharmacist or GP promptly, because prescription drops usually clear the infection within a week or so.

Muffled hearing that lingers after an infection has cleared is worth checking too. Trapped wax is a frequent culprit, and professional ear wax removal can resolve it safely in a single appointment.

How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear This Summer

Prevention comes down to keeping the ear canal dry and leaving its natural defences intact. A few simple habits make a real difference through the swimming season:

Unlike generic foam plugs, custom ear protection is moulded to the exact shape of your ear canal, so it seals out water comfortably and stays in place while you swim. A well-made pair typically lasts several years, which works out as good value for anyone in the pool every week.

Why Ear Wax Matters More in Summer

Ear wax has an unfair reputation. In normal amounts it is protective: it is mildly acidic, repels water, and traps dust and bacteria before they reach the eardrum. Problems only start when wax builds up, absorbs water, and swells. Many people first notice a blockage straight after swimming, when a previously quiet build-up suddenly becomes a blocked, muffled ear.

If your ears feel blocked after every swim, a wax check before your summer holiday is sensible. Microsuction (a gentle suction method that removes wax safely and comfortably, without water) clears the canal in minutes, and same-day appointments are often available in Leicester. Whatever you do, avoid home remedies that promise quick fixes; the evidence on ear candles and their risks is clear, and they have no place in safe ear care.

Common Mistakes That Make Swimmer’s Ear Worse

The biggest mistake is poking at an itchy ear. Fingernails, cotton buds, hair grips, and twisted towel corners all scratch the delicate skin of the canal, and broken skin is exactly what bacteria need to take hold. Itching is usually the first stage of swimmer’s ear, so scratching is the quickest way to turn mild irritation into a painful infection.

Swimming through early symptoms is almost as common. On holiday nobody wants to sit out of the pool, but two or three rest days at the first sign of itching usually beat a week of prescription drops later. If an ear is already sore, keep it dry and ask a pharmacist before putting anything into it.

Repeat episodes deserve attention too. If you seem to get swimmer’s ear every summer, something is probably making your ears vulnerable, such as narrow ear canals, skin conditions like eczema, or a wax build-up that traps water. Our guide to seasonal hearing health explains how to look after your ears through the rest of the year as well.

Children, Holidays, and Pre-Summer Hearing Checks

Children are particularly prone to swimmer’s ear because they spend longer in the water and their ear canals are smaller. The same prevention rules apply: drain and dry ears after swimming, no cotton buds, and consider custom swim plugs for children who train regularly or are prone to ear infections.

Early summer is also a practical moment to sort out any hearing niggles before holidays or family gatherings. If someone in your household has been struggling to follow conversation, a full hearing assessment takes under an hour and gives a clear, objective answer with no pressure attached.

The independent charity RNID publishes free, practical advice on ear care and hearing health if you would like to read more before booking anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready for a Comfortable Summer in the Water?

Healthy ears make summer easier, whether that means lengths at the local pool or a fortnight by the sea. If your ears feel blocked, or you want custom swim plugs fitted before the holidays, book an appointment with Ish in Leicester and start the season comfortably. You can get in touch with the clinic to arrange a convenient time.