What should you know about ear pain caused by water?

Swimming or showering can leave moisture against the delicate skin lining the outer ear canal. Damp skin is easier to irritate, especially after scratching, using cotton buds or wearing in-ear devices. Pain when the outer ear is touched or moved points more toward the canal. A blocked or muffled feeling may also come from water shifting around existing earwax; see Ear Wax Removal for safe professional options. A cold, sinus problem or Middle Ear Infection can cause earache without water being the main cause.

Tilt your head with the sore ear facing down and gently pull the earlobe in different directions to help drainage. Dry only the outside with a towel. Do not put cotton buds, hairpins, fingers or home mixtures into the canal, and avoid swimming until the pain settles. Keep the ear dry during washing by preventing water from entering rather than sealing it deeply. A pharmacist or clinician can advise on suitable pain relief for your age and health. Do not use ear drops if you may have a perforated eardrum or ear tubes unless a clinician recommends them.

Arrange a medical assessment if pain lasts, worsens or returns after water exposure, or if the ear feels blocked and hearing is reduced. Seek prompt care for fluid or pus, bleeding, marked swelling, fever, dizziness, vomiting or pain behind the ear. Urgent assessment is also sensible for severe pain, diabetes, reduced immunity or a known eardrum problem. Antibiotic Treatment may be considered only after a clinician identifies the cause.

Ask whether the pain is in the ear canal or behind the eardrum, whether wax is contributing, and whether the eardrum looks intact. Tell the clinician when the ear became wet, whether touching the ear hurts, and whether you noticed discharge, hearing change or fever.