Page 89 - Community pharmcy practice E-book 2025

02/11/2025, 00:10 Otic & Ophthalmic Disorders | Dermatological Disorders

Excessive moisture may become trapped within the ear from sweating, high humidity, or swimming.

Treatment Goals

The goal of self-treatment is to remove excess moisture from the ear canal, to prevent water from remaining in
the ear canal & prevent recurrences in persons who are prone to retaining moisture in the ears.

Treatment of Water-clogged Ears

Non-pharmacologic Therapy

Nonpharmacologic measures include tactics to prevent exposure and accumulation of moisture within the
EAC.

Earplugs or a bathing cap can be recommended when swimming.

One maneuver to dispel excessive moisture from the ear canal is to pull the ear lobe gently while tilting the
head downward; this action straightens the EAC, which promotes gravity drainage.

Another method is using a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting to help dry the EAC.

Pharmacologic Therapy
Ear-drying agents:

Approved labelling for ear-drying products is limited to statements that may include "dries water in the ears
and relieves water clogged ears after swimming, showering, bathing, washing the hair."
Only isopropyl alcohol 95% in anhydrous glycerine 5% base as the active ingredient is recognized by FDA to be
safe and effective when used as an ear-drying agent.
Of note, these products are approved only to aid in ear drying after such activities and not for prevention of
moisture accumulation or treatment of an inflammatory process.

Isopropyl alcohol 95% in anhydrous glycerine 5% (Ear-drying agent):

Isopropyl alcohol 95% in anhydrous glycerine 5% is considered a safe and effective "ear-drying aid."

Alcohol is highly miscible with water and acts as a drying agent. In concentrations greater than 70%, alcohol
is also an effective skin disinfectant.

Repeated use of alcohol alone can cause overdying of tissue in the canal. The combination of alcohol and
glycerine, provides a product that reduces moisture in the ear without overdying.

Glycerine has been used in pharmaceutical preparations for its solvent, emollient, or hygroscopic
properties.

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