>>> Wow, thanks for all the information guys. I am still young and figure the > earlier I start to take care of my ears the better! The rubbing alcohol on the q-tip trick to displace all the water in the ear canal after surfing is very important according to my doctor. Here's another ear health tip. Go to the health food store, herb room, or whatever it's called in your area and get a dropper bottle of the HERBPHARM's mullein garlic compound. The herbs are in olive oil so several good things happen when you put about a 1/2 a drop in your ear. You soften ear wax which makes it easy to get it out. You prevent and fight ear infections and if you put it in before you go surfing you put a quality oil barrier between the water and some pretty delicate membrane. It only costs a few bucks and believe it very soothing an worth all trouble of 10 seconds before you surf and the 30 seconds afterward. Good Surfin', Rich
>>> Wow, thanks for all the information guys. I am still young and figure the > earlier I start to take care of my ears the better! The rubbing alcohol on the q-tip trick to displace all the water in the ear canal after surfing is very important according to my doctor. Here's another ear health tip. Go to the health food store, herb room, or whatever it's called in your area and get a dropper bottle of the HERBPHARM's mullein garlic compound. The herbs are in olive oil so several good things happen when you put about a 1/2 a drop in your ear. You soften ear wax which makes it easy to get it out. You prevent and fight ear infections and if you put it in before you go surfing you put a quality oil barrier between the water and some pretty delicate membrane. It only costs a few bucks and believe it very soothing an worth all trouble of 10 seconds before you surf and the 30 seconds afterward. Good Surfin', Rich
Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing any harm?
Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing any harm?
>>> Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? > I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of > doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm > removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? > When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing > any harm? My Doctor , who surfs, says , with authority, "Don't put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow".
>>> Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? > I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of > doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm > removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? > When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing > any harm? I was a springboard diver when I was younger and had to protect my ears then but what I do now works way better. Remember I'm no doctor. I'm just sharing what I've done for some time. As far as the q-tip you gotta go easy first with alcohol. then easy with a dry one. The cotton can irritate things if you get too aggressive, all you want to do is displace the moister with alcohol and then dry that up quick so it doesnt dry the membranes out. The alcohol takes water out as well as wax and skin oils. Put a little of the herb oil in there. It'll help keep things calm. It works for me. Good Surfin', Rich
>>> My Doctor , who surfs, says , with authority, "Don't put anything in > your ear smaller than your elbow". Good advice. I used a Q-Tip for a while. When my ears got infected the doc said that Q-Tips merely push the wax farther into the ear. I never made that mistake again. Now I clean the wax buildup from the entrance of my ear with a tiny smooth stainless tool which I found in a hygeine kit. Last time surfing caused me an ear infection, the doc irrigated my ear with warm water from a giant hypodermic syringe. It worked great. I took a lesson. I bought one of those little drug store irrigation kits... too small to make a difference. I went to a hobbie shop and bought a big fuel syringe. Now when I get the surfing sand/wax buildup, I irrigate using the fuel bulb and warm water. Works just like the doc's. P.S. I'm really careful to clean and dry the bulb between uses.
>>> Good advice. I used a Q-Tip for a while. When my ears got infected the doc > said that Q-Tips merely push the wax farther into the ear. I never made > that mistake again. Now I clean the wax buildup from the entrance of my > ear with a tiny smooth stainless tool which I found in a hygeine kit.>>> Last time surfing caused me an ear infection, the doc irrigated my ear > with warm water from a giant hypodermic syringe. It worked great. I took a > lesson. I bought one of those little drug store irrigation kits... too > small to make a difference. I went to a hobbie shop and bought a big fuel > syringe. Now when I get the surfing sand/wax buildup, I irrigate using the > fuel bulb and warm water. Works just like the doc's.>>> P.S. I'm really careful to clean and dry the bulb between uses. Having had a VERY PAINFUL ear drum rupture from a nasty ear infection, let me share a little of what I've learned (albeit the hard way): 1) According to my ear doctor, it's a BAD idea to use Q-tips after surfing. What happens is that tiny bits of sand & salt act as abrasives, which scratch the membranes along the inside of your ear (where you think you are cleaning). Those scratches are inviting little crevices for germs & voila, you have ear infections. 2) As for the bony growth that closes off your ears, a friend of mine who grew up surfing in very cold water (England/Wales) had to have surgery to fix this, and said it was extremely painful & with a long recovery period. He was told by his doctor/surgeon to ALWAYS wear a hood when surfing in cold water, preferably with earplugs underneath. The problem is repeated flushing of the ears with cold water (this causes, over years and years, the bony growth to occur as some sort of defense mechanism). So, ear plugs are good (I like the silicon putty myself, but whatever suits you...) and hoods help a lot too. 3) After surfing use ear drops to dry out your ears. You can buy swimmer's drops at the drug store or you can make them yourself (much cheaper) out of equal parts denatured alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. For about $2 you have enough eardrops to last you forever! (Some people use vinegar in their drops but I think it smells funky.) Hope this helps. Don't go through what some of us have suffered...
>>> I was a springboard diver when I was younger and had to protect my ears > then but what I do now works way better. Remember I'm no doctor. I'm just > sharing what I've done for some time. As far as the q-tip you gotta go > easy first with alcohol. then easy with a dry one. The cotton can irritate > things if you get too aggressive, all you want to do is displace the > moister with alcohol and then dry that up quick so it doesnt dry the > membranes out. The alcohol takes water out as well as wax and skin oils. > Put a little of the herb oil in there. It'll help keep things calm. It > works for me.>>> Good Surfin', Rich YEAH, AFTER A 6 WEEK BOUT WITH VERTIGO LAST FALL(BOY, I'LL TELL YOU THAT SUCKS TURNING OVER IN BED AND SPINNING OUT, DRIVING IS ALSO RISKY!). ANYWAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOOD TO GO NOW AND THEN I'VE HAD RINGING IN MY EARS FOR THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS. STARTING TO GET WORRIED AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET THAT IT COULD BE PERMINENT INNER DAMAGE. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP MY AGGRESIVE SURFING YET AND USUALLY GET SALTWATER WAY UP IN MY EAR AFTER HEADDIPS, COVERUPS, AND WHATEVER..... NOW, I'LL KEEP MY FINGERS, Q-TIPS, OUT OF MY EAR AND BE WAY MORE GENTLE WITH CLEANING/DRYING OUT THAT INNER EAR AREA. VERTIGO SUCKS AND THATS NOT THE WAY A SURFER WOULD WANT TO BE INHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN WHAT HE LOVES BEST. COULD'NT EVEN IMAGINE WHATS IN THE WATER DOWN AT BOCO RIO,IB, OR CARDIFF REEF, SEAL BEACH, MALIBU OR ANY RIVER OUTLET. GOOD LUCK GUYS. PROTECT YOUR EAR HOLES!
>>> Wow, thanks for all the information guys. I am still young and figure the > earlier I start to take care of my ears the better! The rubbing alcohol on the q-tip trick to displace all the water in the ear canal after surfing is very important according to my doctor. Here's another ear health tip. Go to the health food store, herb room, or whatever it's called in your area and get a dropper bottle of the HERBPHARM's mullein garlic compound. The herbs are in olive oil so several good things happen when you put about a 1/2 a drop in your ear. You soften ear wax which makes it easy to get it out. You prevent and fight ear infections and if you put it in before you go surfing you put a quality oil barrier between the water and some pretty delicate membrane. It only costs a few bucks and believe it very soothing an worth all trouble of 10 seconds before you surf and the 30 seconds afterward. Good Surfin', Rich
>>> Wow, thanks for all the information guys. I am still young and figure the > earlier I start to take care of my ears the better! The rubbing alcohol on the q-tip trick to displace all the water in the ear canal after surfing is very important according to my doctor. Here's another ear health tip. Go to the health food store, herb room, or whatever it's called in your area and get a dropper bottle of the HERBPHARM's mullein garlic compound. The herbs are in olive oil so several good things happen when you put about a 1/2 a drop in your ear. You soften ear wax which makes it easy to get it out. You prevent and fight ear infections and if you put it in before you go surfing you put a quality oil barrier between the water and some pretty delicate membrane. It only costs a few bucks and believe it very soothing an worth all trouble of 10 seconds before you surf and the 30 seconds afterward. Good Surfin', Rich
Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing any harm?
Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing any harm?
>>> Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? > I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of > doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm > removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? > When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing > any harm? My Doctor , who surfs, says , with authority, "Don't put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow".
>>> Is it a bad idea to clean out your ears with a dry q-tip after every surf? > I usually do this to get the water out. I notice that after a few days of > doing this, my ears begin to get itchy inside. I'm guessing that i'm > removing too much wax and the skin inside the canal is getting too dry? > When I stop doing this for a few days, the itch goes away. Am I causing > any harm? I was a springboard diver when I was younger and had to protect my ears then but what I do now works way better. Remember I'm no doctor. I'm just sharing what I've done for some time. As far as the q-tip you gotta go easy first with alcohol. then easy with a dry one. The cotton can irritate things if you get too aggressive, all you want to do is displace the moister with alcohol and then dry that up quick so it doesnt dry the membranes out. The alcohol takes water out as well as wax and skin oils. Put a little of the herb oil in there. It'll help keep things calm. It works for me. Good Surfin', Rich
>>> My Doctor , who surfs, says , with authority, "Don't put anything in > your ear smaller than your elbow". Good advice. I used a Q-Tip for a while. When my ears got infected the doc said that Q-Tips merely push the wax farther into the ear. I never made that mistake again. Now I clean the wax buildup from the entrance of my ear with a tiny smooth stainless tool which I found in a hygeine kit. Last time surfing caused me an ear infection, the doc irrigated my ear with warm water from a giant hypodermic syringe. It worked great. I took a lesson. I bought one of those little drug store irrigation kits... too small to make a difference. I went to a hobbie shop and bought a big fuel syringe. Now when I get the surfing sand/wax buildup, I irrigate using the fuel bulb and warm water. Works just like the doc's. P.S. I'm really careful to clean and dry the bulb between uses.
>>> Good advice. I used a Q-Tip for a while. When my ears got infected the doc > said that Q-Tips merely push the wax farther into the ear. I never made > that mistake again. Now I clean the wax buildup from the entrance of my > ear with a tiny smooth stainless tool which I found in a hygeine kit.>>> Last time surfing caused me an ear infection, the doc irrigated my ear > with warm water from a giant hypodermic syringe. It worked great. I took a > lesson. I bought one of those little drug store irrigation kits... too > small to make a difference. I went to a hobbie shop and bought a big fuel > syringe. Now when I get the surfing sand/wax buildup, I irrigate using the > fuel bulb and warm water. Works just like the doc's.>>> P.S. I'm really careful to clean and dry the bulb between uses. Having had a VERY PAINFUL ear drum rupture from a nasty ear infection, let me share a little of what I've learned (albeit the hard way): 1) According to my ear doctor, it's a BAD idea to use Q-tips after surfing. What happens is that tiny bits of sand & salt act as abrasives, which scratch the membranes along the inside of your ear (where you think you are cleaning). Those scratches are inviting little crevices for germs & voila, you have ear infections. 2) As for the bony growth that closes off your ears, a friend of mine who grew up surfing in very cold water (England/Wales) had to have surgery to fix this, and said it was extremely painful & with a long recovery period. He was told by his doctor/surgeon to ALWAYS wear a hood when surfing in cold water, preferably with earplugs underneath. The problem is repeated flushing of the ears with cold water (this causes, over years and years, the bony growth to occur as some sort of defense mechanism). So, ear plugs are good (I like the silicon putty myself, but whatever suits you...) and hoods help a lot too. 3) After surfing use ear drops to dry out your ears. You can buy swimmer's drops at the drug store or you can make them yourself (much cheaper) out of equal parts denatured alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. For about $2 you have enough eardrops to last you forever! (Some people use vinegar in their drops but I think it smells funky.) Hope this helps. Don't go through what some of us have suffered...
>>> I was a springboard diver when I was younger and had to protect my ears > then but what I do now works way better. Remember I'm no doctor. I'm just > sharing what I've done for some time. As far as the q-tip you gotta go > easy first with alcohol. then easy with a dry one. The cotton can irritate > things if you get too aggressive, all you want to do is displace the > moister with alcohol and then dry that up quick so it doesnt dry the > membranes out. The alcohol takes water out as well as wax and skin oils. > Put a little of the herb oil in there. It'll help keep things calm. It > works for me.>>> Good Surfin', Rich YEAH, AFTER A 6 WEEK BOUT WITH VERTIGO LAST FALL(BOY, I'LL TELL YOU THAT SUCKS TURNING OVER IN BED AND SPINNING OUT, DRIVING IS ALSO RISKY!). ANYWAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOOD TO GO NOW AND THEN I'VE HAD RINGING IN MY EARS FOR THE LAST 2-3 WEEKS. STARTING TO GET WORRIED AFTER READING ON THE INTERNET THAT IT COULD BE PERMINENT INNER DAMAGE. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP MY AGGRESIVE SURFING YET AND USUALLY GET SALTWATER WAY UP IN MY EAR AFTER HEADDIPS, COVERUPS, AND WHATEVER..... NOW, I'LL KEEP MY FINGERS, Q-TIPS, OUT OF MY EAR AND BE WAY MORE GENTLE WITH CLEANING/DRYING OUT THAT INNER EAR AREA. VERTIGO SUCKS AND THATS NOT THE WAY A SURFER WOULD WANT TO BE INHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN WHAT HE LOVES BEST. COULD'NT EVEN IMAGINE WHATS IN THE WATER DOWN AT BOCO RIO,IB, OR CARDIFF REEF, SEAL BEACH, MALIBU OR ANY RIVER OUTLET. GOOD LUCK GUYS. PROTECT YOUR EAR HOLES!
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