Surfers Ear

Cold water in the ear, if repeated often, can produce a condition known as surfer’s ear, which is an abnormal bone growth in the ear canal. Its a bit like the start of an evolutionary process which your ear canal decides you spend way too much time in the water and you are now better off as a fish. The body thinks theres really no need for ears, especially when cold air and sea water can penetrate and cause infections.

Symptoms

The symptoms of surfers ear are predominately felt in one ear first; this is due to the prevailing wind direction which has forced cold air into the ear. This is why most people who surf and live on Cornwalls north coast start suffer earring loss in the right ear due to SW winds. Symptoms can range from slight earring loss, increased rate of ear infections and having problems evacuating water from the ear.

Remedy

if the evolution of excessive bone growth has taken its hold on the ear canal its time to call the doctor. You will be put under aesthetic and the very nice doctor will cut an incision in the back of your ear and drill the bone clear of the ear canal. Very nice! This will take up to several weeks to heal and you can forget surfing in this time, what a bummer!

Prevention

So what do you do to protect yourself from surfers ear?

• Wetsuit Hood.

Wear a wetsuit hood with your wetsuit. This helps prevent cold air and water entering the ear canal.

• Ear Plugs

If you dont like wearing a wetsuit hood because you look like a complete gimp in your wetsuit, stick some plugs in your ears. Some surfers even use blue tac

• Earol

I was a bit sceptical about this stuff at first; I have used this stuff now for 2 seasons of cold winter water and winds and it works. Its basically an olive oil substance which you spray in your ear to create a barrier. The oil repels the water from entering the ear so the canal is kept warm and dry. The best thing is that you can hear really clearly and it doesnt impair your balance in anyway.

Check it out here http://www.hlhealthcare.co.uk/

Theres a good article here about surfers ear http://surf.transworld.net/1000077285/features/surfers-ear-symposium