Water precautions

Ears should be kept clear and dry to keep them healthy.

No shower/bath water, soap or shampoo should enter the ear as this can lead to a blockage and/or infection.

If you have an ear infection you will be advised to keep your ears dry for at least 4 weeks, sometimes longer.

To prevent water entering ears

• Wear a shower cap

• Use ear plugs - take care to clean these and not reuse them if you have an infection as this will lead to cross and reinfection

• Vaseline on cottonwool to form a waterproof seal

• Use ‘BluTack’

  • make a ‘coin’ shape to seal the opening of the ear canal

  • do not make a sausage shape, it can get stuck inside

To dry your ears

• flap air in; with your hand, a piece of cardboard/plastic or use a hairdryer

• if you use a hairdryer, take care to use the cools setting only at arm’s length for no more than 20 seconds at a time

Do not insert anything into your canal to dry it!