EAR HEALTH //001
What cold water and wind do to your ears
Written for water athletes. What you need to know about the two conditions people ask us about most - surfer's ear and swimmer's ear - and how to prevent them. General information, not medical advice.
SURFER'S EAR //002
Exostosis - bone growth in the canal
Surfer's ear is the common name for exostosis: extra bone growth in the ear canal. It is caused by repeated exposure to cold water and wind over years, which is why it shows up in surfers, kitesurfers, windsurfers and open-water swimmers rather than in the general population.
It develops slowly and often without symptoms early on. As the canal narrows, water and wax get trapped more easily, which can lead to repeated infections and, in advanced cases, hearing loss. Treatment at that stage is surgical.
SWIMMER'S EAR //003
Otitis externa - the wet-ear infection
Swimmer's ear is an infection of the outer ear canal. Water sitting in the canal after a session softens the skin and strips the wax that normally protects it, which makes it easier for bacteria to take hold.
Unlike surfer's ear it comes on quickly - itching, then pain, sometimes discharge. It is treatable, but it recurs, and each round means time out of the water.
WHAT ACTUALLY HELPS //004
How to prevent surfer's ear: what actually helps
Reduce the exposure
Both conditions are exposure-driven, so prevention means cutting exposure: plugs every session, a hood in winter, and drying your ears properly afterwards.
Dry your ears properly
Tilt your head each side after a session and let the canal drain. Do not dig with cotton buds - that removes the wax layer that protects the skin.
Get checked early
Exostosis is easy for a doctor to see and impossible for you to see. If you have surfed cold water for years, ask at your next appointment.
Don't dive with plugs
Diving guidance advises against earplug use when scuba diving because of pressure effects. Surface water sports and descending underwater are different problems.
QUESTIONS //005
Common questions
Do water earplugs prevent ear infections?
Yes, by keeping water out of the ear canal, which is where infections like swimmer's ear start. Persistent pain, discharge or hearing changes still need a doctor.
How long does surfer's ear take to develop?
It is a long-term response to repeated exposure rather than a single season. That is also why people are often surprised by a diagnosis - the growth is gradual and usually silent at first.
Can I wear earplugs if I already have exostosis?
Ask your doctor. A narrowed canal changes how anything sits in the ear, and that assessment needs someone who can look inside it.
Is cold water worse than wind?
Both are implicated together in the surfer's-ear literature, which is why the classic picture is cold water plus wind chill on a wet ear.
SEAR Plugs are designed to keep water out of the ear canal.
Fit, ear anatomy and water conditions can affect the seal. Twelve fit combinations in every box.
