All You Need To Know About Ear Protection

There are many different types of ear protection. Dependent on personal preference, each version is perfect for protecting the inner ear from water which could lead to irritating problems such as swimmer’s ear. Swimmer's ear is an inflammation caused by a variety of conditions but is often brought on by water entering the ear canal. It can be extremely painful but is generally easy to prevent or cure.

But what are the options when it comes to preventing water trapping in ears, preventing water borne bacterial ear infections and protecting the ears from dirty pool water and hearing loss after swimming?

Here are a few of our top ways to look after your ears whenever you take a dip...

Earol Swim is one of the bestsellers in our retail outlet for both swimmers and divers. Earol Swim® is clinically proven to prevent water trapping in the ears during and after water activities and water-borne bacterial ear infections for age groups 1 year and above.

The olive oil in it creates a water-resistant and repellent oil layer within the ear which waterproofs the ear during swimming and repels the water after swimming (oil and water don't mix). The tea tree oil (a natural biocide) ingredient kills bacteria in any remaining moisture, preventing the chance of bacterial ear infections. It also negates the need for unhygienic earplugs or unsightly swim caps.

It can be used as a travel health product to protect children's ears against holiday swimming pool water as well as for kids learning to swim at school. It's also great for use during all professional or recreational water-sports including SCUBA, triathlon, open water and pool swimming. 1 dose protects for a minimum of six hours after which the oil is naturally expelled from the ears.

In terms of application, it has a tapered actuator to ensure that it cannot be pushed into the ear canal too far, so you never have to worry about damaging your ears when you use it. The mechanism is a metered dose pump (50mcl) and you receive the same exact dose each time (180 doses per pack). It is non-aerosol and creates a gentle mist spray which dramatically increases the surface area of the oil allowing the droplets to adhere to the ear canal walls. The spray allows much less oil to be used per dose and no unsightly cotton wool plugs are required to keep the oil in the ear as it adheres to the ear canal walls (droppers use 1ml while the metered dose spray uses 0.05ml).

It also comes with a reusable durable carry case so it can be safely stored in your luggage, sports, travel or beach bag and is aircraft cabin-friendly.

If spraying something in your ear doesn't appeal to you then why not try, ear plugs which are carefully inserted against the ear canal. Swimming ear plugs (if they fit correctly) can stop water from getting in your ear canals as you swim, thereby preventing ear infection. However, as the plugs are one-size-fits-all, they can easily become loose and fall out while you're swimming, exposing your ear canals and allowing water to enter. 

An important thing to remember is that ear plugs come in many different styles, each with their own benefits. don't be afraid to try out multiple styles to see which works best for you. Having the correct fit and a watertight seal is worth the extra time, money, and effort of trying several models.

If your ear protection option fails or you forget to use it Swim-eze is perfect. It eliminates the unpleasant symptoms and feelings of trapped ear water. Its non-medicated formula evaporates trapped ear water leaving the ear clean, water free and dry and it dramatically reduces risk of painful ear infections by removing any trace of water and bacteria. It's recommended for use after swimming, diving, bathing and water sports.

Suitable for adults and children and works in seconds.

What form of ear protection do you use when swimming? You can shop our whole range here on our website.