Swimmer's Ear remedy?

[Faint]

How much hydrogen peroxide in how much water?

How much do you put in the ears? Should you shove cotton in after it?

How often a day do you treat?

Any better, non-prescription remedies than this one?

Faint

[NurseMan]

A few drops of isopropyl alcohol will help dry it up. Works for me. I have a lot of problems with my left ear & get "swimmer's ear" a lot. Alcohol is the ingredient in over the counter products marketed for swimmer's ear.

[Faint]

alcohol on a swab and haven't had much luck, I'll try the drops. Thanks.

Faint

[Requa]

I have alot of sunis problems, If I do not rinse my ears out with Alcohol once a week, problems occur with my ears within the first days of a sinus infection.

Why? Well, not being a doctor I can explain my personal beliefs..and experiences. My sinuses seem to produce an over abundance of Mucus, which if i do not irrigate my sinuses faithfully the buildup drains into my eustachian tube while i sleep, predominately on my dominate sleeping side. Once the infection starts in my nose it seems to "Travel Down River".

A Waxy buildup starts and my ear "Itches"

Inflamation in my sinuses and in my inner ear tends to seal up the canal and the drainage then cannot be pushed back out with pressure (like poping your ears)And the condition then becomes painful.

But, atleast weekly I do this. I open my bottle of rubbing alcohol and I fill the cap about 1/2 full. I tilt my head over to put the ear facing the ceiling. I pour the 1/2 capfull into the ear. I then (gently) tug the earlobe in different directions to work in the alcohol. (i beleive) it breaks up the wax a little and allows the alcohol to get under the waxy stuff... then I wait a minute or so.
I grab a little toilet paper and then right my head to make it vertical. I use my finger to work the alcohol out of the ear. usually a bunch of goop comes out at that time...it may burn a little but usually if it dosent burn the first time
I try it again..

i try not to stick q-tips in my ear canal
I dont go any further than i can stick my finger in my ear.

I dont like to use hydrogen peroxide..Why? it was my understanding the hydrogen peroxide is a destructive agent, it will destroy good skin as well and my ear drum is very thin and I have wore off layers of that skin using hydrogen peroxide in my ear...If I do use it, it isnt in there long and it is followed by alcohol.

As I said this is my experience and preferences, the why and how.
Requa

[goatlady]

I have alway heard go the alcohol route with a cap full in the ear. Being from the Fla. coast originally I never had that problem. It seems to be predominently with fresh water not salt.

[WolfBrother]

If you'll look at a number of OTC preparations, you'll find they're generally composed of a small amount of boric acid in isopropyll alcohol.

I think the acid that would be left after the alcohol evaporates would make the outer ear canal less hospitable for fungal infections.