Q: You have given your readers some very bad advice. As a practicing physician for 44 years, I advise my patients after they bathe, shower or swim to simply use a hair dryer to gently blow warm (not ...

Some people use rubbing alcohol to treat various ear conditions, such as swimmers’ ear or middle and inner ear infections. Rubbing alcohol is also known as isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. People ...

Kathryn Noonan, MD is a neurotologist at Tufts Medical Center. She has board certifications in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, pediatric and adult neurotology, and skull base surgery. She is ...

Swimmer’s ear, a condition that occurs when water or moisture is trapped in the ear canal, is often talked about during summer, but health professionals say it is a year-round condition and doesn’t ...

Q: When I was training for triathlons, I was told to mix a solution of alcohol, vinegar and glycerin in a squirt bottle. After swimming, I would shake the bottle and apply a few drops in each ear, ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I swim for exercise and relaxation. I try to get in the pool about three times a week. Recently, I have begun to have episodes where it feels like water is still in my ear. Then my ...

Otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear, is inflammation and irritation in the outer ear. People can treat mild cases with antibiotic drops, but infectious cases may need oral antibiotic medication.

Q. You have given your readers some bad advice. As a practicing physician for 44 years, I advise my patients after they bathe, shower or swim to simply use a hair dryer to gently blow warm (not hot) ...