I am having a lot of trouble with ear infections. My doctor recommended getting some good quality ear plugs when in the ocean as he thought it was the major cause of the infections.
My question is , what is best when in the surf?
I currently just use normal disposable plugs , but they don't stay in when they get wet , and usually won't last a full session.
Also i don't like the fact that i can't hear properly , and loose some sense of balance with the noise protection type disposable plugs.
I have ear problems as well but not infections, I need to use ear drops that makes my ears fill with water which I cant get out easily. I found wearing a helmet with ear covers stops the water being forced into my ears. Maybe the use of a helmet and ear plugs may work.
www.proplugs.com/
I have been using for 5 years or so in surf, sup and kite surfing. I have not had water in my ears when i have them in. I wear a bucket hat that covers my ears so i have never had one fall out.
Good if you can find a shop that sells them for sizing fit up.
100 % recommend them
Disclaimer, I own the company LOL just joking, im just a happy user (of the plugs)
Hey Jeff,
Had the same issue for a while earlier this season. Went down the pathway of cheap disposable ear plugs but they would leak and give me the sh!ts.
I am assuming your issue is a cause of an outer ear infection hence needing ear plugs, and as it was explained to me by a doctor...water gets stuck in your ear and can't escape. With a combination of water, ear wax, dead skin and general crap in your ear it provides an excellent opportunity for bacteria to grow.
The solution, which has worked perfectly for me was to make sure I put Aqua Ear (available from a pharmacist) in your ear straight after a surf session. This is an alcohol & vinegar solution and drys up any water that may be stuck and can work well on killing off any bacteria. Roll with this one for a while before going down the pathway of ear plugs as it is a good, cheap and effective method. I kept some in the car for some while.
If this doesn't work try tailor made ear plugs.
All the best.
SurfEars are the bomb if you want to keep water out but still hear/ talk to people surfears.com/
theyre about $60 a set so don't loose them. But they do work.
However i have my doubts about them - they create a sensation of cold air blowing in your ear canal. Which doesnt actually bother me that much but does make me wonder if they are effective at stopping growth of exostoses.
So now i just use them if Im surfing and want to talk to people. If Im surfing by myself or kiting i use other plugs which do make you deaf, but you'll get used to that.
Yeah , Have tried the aqua ear and it actually made the infection worse as it has never gone completely away.
Even after two full courses of antibiotics , the infection came back about 3 months later.
I will try the surf ears product , don't like wearing hats or helmets , blue tac hurts too much as my ears are quite sore .
Now just need to locate a supplier of "SurfEars" .
Will Google that !
I'm no doctor Jeff, but if the infection is an outer ear infection then tablet antibiotics won't work.
You need to get Kenacomb ear drops (antibiotics) as it is an outer ear whilst using the Aqua Ear. Then once on top of it stick with using the Aqua ear.
Apple cider vinegar will sort it out. Get the raw unfiltered stuff. I use it at the first sign of an ear ache.
Okay, I'm being serious here, no joking, been dealing with ear issues for a very long time (40'ish+ years), but my issues have been arrested for about ten years now. Typical surfer's ear, both sides.
I had tried about every plug on the market including, the ones already mentioned, and none of them gave me 100% confidence for various reasons, until I met an older, long time, surf guy whom I had respected from afar for years. We were talking after a good surf session and I asked him "what the hell is in your ears?" His answer~
Yep, Silly Putty, but it has to be the original one, flesh colored, in the red egg, imitations by different companies, or different colors made by the same company won't work, only this one does the job. The original, made by Crayola Corp.
It bonds with the skin like no other, but is also easy to remove by pressing the back of the ear. One eggs worth lasts me about one season, salt will eventually change the consistency making it softer, that's when you need to get a new egg. I get about 80 to 100 sessions per season.
Many of my friends have converted to Silly Putty and have been swearing by it ever since.
Hopefully they sell the stuff in your country.
Also, you have to keep your ear canals warm at all times to prevent surfer's ear from getting worse, if it's cold and windy, and I'm spending time out in it, like when I'm snow skiing, I wear foam plugs (the kind for loud sounds), they keep the cold wind out, and the canals warm.
Select to expand quoteknot board said..
Apple cider vinegar will sort it out. Get the raw unfiltered stuff. I use it at the first sign of an ear ache.
My dad used to drink that stuff to relieve his arthritis , and my wife uses it to wash her hair .
Is there no end to the uses of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ?
I will try it and see if it works.
Have currently got and am using chloramphenicol ear drops , and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride ear drops.
Been using the drops for about 3 months and still have problems with wax, dead skin building up , and ringing in both ears .
Then when trying to clear out the gunk , I seem to cause the infection to re-occur.
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
Okay
Also, you have to keep your ear canals warm at all times to prevent surfer's ear from getting worse, if it's cold and windy, and I'm spending time out in it, like when I'm snow skiing, I wear foam plugs (the kind for loud sounds), they keep the cold wind out, and the canals warm.
I live in Geraldton WA . No chance of any cold weather here and never seen it snow , so the cold is not a problem.
Don't think I have ever seen Silly Putty in any toy store here.
Would be much like blue tac I would think , but I don't want that silent type of feeling when on the water
Here is a review I did for the custom made types you get from your local audiologist.
I am 60+, surfing since 17 and my ears give me hell.
I recently purchased Surfears, they have a little leash that goes around your neck and I have found them brilliant. Surfing, Supping or swimming, no water in the ear canal.
Once a week I put in three drop of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution in each ear to get rid of wax and water.
Hope you find something that works in all of the answers!
A topic that I have dealt with since swim teams in the 50's, surfing since the 60's
Constant painful ear aches and hearing loss my entire life.
10 years ago I was told my ear canals were 90% closed and I'd need "the operation"
6 months a year, the infections would cause hearing loss from blockage.
I wore ear plugs of all kinds, Doc's Pro Plugs etc, and wore them faithfully. Nothing changed.
When I moved from surfing prone, to SUP, I bought an FCS kook hat with chinstrap and mesh panel over the ears.
It doesn't block hearing at all.
Water still gets in my ears.... but gently.
I have never had hearing loss or infection since the day I started wearing that hat.
another practice I adopted sometime later.
at the 1st twinge or even thought of ear pain, I put a little dab of antibiotic ointment on a cue-tip and swab my ear. ONE time.
I figure... it worked for my dog, why should a Dr. be needed to prescribe some expensive Pharmacy medication?
It also seems to keep my ears free of wax build-up.
Anyway.... for whatever reason, the lifelong pain and deafness went stopped completely, the day I bought that stupid looking hat in 2012.
Ratty and beat-up now.... I will not go out without it.
Besides... I look so freaking cool in it 
I use a mickey mouse ear syringe to flush out my bad ear whenever it starts to feel a bit icky.
www.amcal.com.au/ear-clear-wax-removal-syringe-p-9313501038092
I am not trying to flush out the ear wax or anything drastic like that. I simply flush out the rank water in there with clean water then dry my ear fairly thoroughly (using thin fabric or tissue on my little finger). I do it in the shower using just the warm water out of the shower head. It's a very gentle process.
Sometimes I don't bother to use the syringe, just let the shower run onto my bad ear and drain it out a few times. The intention is to get the bacteria laden, stale water out and replace it with clean, fresh water that can be dried.
I have tried the various swimmer's ear products and they cause a bit of pain and discomfort to my bad ear.
I can usually tell when it needs to be done. My ear feels a little "thick" and I can hear some squishing when I massage the ear from the outside.
I have tried all the various plugs. Soft, mouldable silicone were probably the best. Surf Ears probably the most disappointing. They do not keep the water out. I exchanged lots of emails with the manufacturer and they admitted it was almost impossible to do.
I'm not a fan of hats with ear covers. They do stop the big jet of water into your ear, but they don't stop the simple filling of your ear when you fall. Same goes for helmets with ear covers. They're even worse for wind sports because they form resonators that amplify the wind noise.
The current state of protective water sports headwear is garbage. There is nothing on the market that actually addresses the issues we face (impact protection, bucket effect, sun protection, ear protection). I have tried almost every brand and style of helmet and they all suck (Gath, Protec, NP Surf, Mystic etc)
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
I'm not a fan of hats with ear covers. They do stop the big jet of water into your ear, but they don't stop the simple filling of your ear when you fall. Same goes for helmets with ear covers. They're even worse for wind sports because they form resonators that amplify the wind noise.
The current state of protective water sports headwear is garbage. There is nothing on the market that actually addresses the issues we face (impact protection, bucket effect, sun protection, ear protection). I have tried almost every brand and style of helmet and they all suck (Gath, Protec, NP Surf, Mystic etc)
The newer Gath helmets have closable ear covers making them quiet, as well as inside plugs for the top vents. For the other brands, tape over the ear holes on the helmet works great. A little inventiveness can go a long way.
A helmet with ear covers and a visor doesn't give you sun protection? Wow, I've never seen a transparent one, never.
Maybe it's really a style thing, yes?
The sun protection on most helmets is fine. Blocking the top vents on the Gath might work. I never bothered wearing mine without the top vent plugs.
The ear protectors act as resonators and amplify the wind noise. Blocking the ear vents on the older Gath hats doesn't appreciably decrease wind noise. If you're worried about ear impact or burst ear drums then ear protectors work fine. They're easy enough to remove if the wind noise bothers you.
I could talk at length about the failures of most of the helmets I have owned but this thread is about ear protection. My most recent Gath helmet was returned a few days ago. I spent a fair amount of time exchanging helmets with Gath and they were not able to resolve the problem. They were pretty good about trying to help me.
A style thing? I'm old. I wear a life jacket and booties and a home made surf hat. I quite enjoy looking a bit of a dork.
I have learned over the years the best way to avoid ear infections is to keep water out of you ears at all times.
I've tried everything including blu tac aqua ear and everytype of sports,swimming and industrial earplugs. These ones work the best by far .... www.macksearplugs.com/product/ear-seals-dual-purpose-ear-plugs/
You can get them cheap on eBay. I have seen that brand available locally but not that model (Macks ear seals)
Select to expand quotejeff2 said..
Yeah , Have tried the aqua ear and it actually made the infection worse as it has never gone completely away.
Even after two full courses of antibiotics , the infection came back about 3 months later.
I will try the surf ears product , don't like wearing hats or helmets , blue tac hurts too much as my ears are quite sore .
Now just need to locate a supplier of "SurfEars" .
Will Google that !
Aqua ear dries up the water, it doesn't clean up the infection, you need something else to do that. Aqua ear also irritates the infection (as you already know) but it useful as a preventative. You can make it super cheap, equal parts white vinegar and isopropyl alcohol.
A couple of drops of Colloidal silver allowed to sit in there for a few minutes works wonders, let it drain out when you're done. The stuff works on all sorts of things. Both the Gerro health food shops stock it.
