What Is Swimmer’s Ear? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Learn everything you need to know about swimmer’s ear. Plus, get tips on prevention, quick relief, and effective treatments for swimmer’s ear.
acetic acid
Used for Ear Infection
Used for Ear Infection
Acetic acid ear drops are used to treat an outer ear infection (otitis externa or swimmer's ear). It's a prescription antiseptic that stops bacteria from growing. This helps to treat symptoms, such as inflammation, pain, and redness, in the ear(s). Acetic acid ear drops are approved for people ages 3 years and older. The ear drops are placed in the affected ear(s) several times a day. Side effects aren't common, but there can be occasional burning or stinging in the ears.
What is Acetic acid?
What is Acetic acid used for?
- Outer ear infection (swimmer's ear) in people ages 3 years and older
How Acetic acid works
Acetic acid is an antiseptic. It makes the inside of your ear more acidic, which harms the germs causing the ear infection. This stops bacteria and fungi from growing inside your ear.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Vosol |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Antiseptic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Acetic acid
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Stinging in the ear
- Burning feeling in the ear
Less Common Side Effects
- Ear irritation
The following Acetic acid side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Worsening ear pain
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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$30.75
GoodRx discount
$17.15
Pros and cons of Acetic acid
Pros
- Works directly in the ears
- Few side effects
- Can give to children as young as 3 years old
Cons
- Doesn't work as well as corticosteroid-containing drops (e.g., hydrocortisone/acetic acid)
- Will need to keep a piece of cotton soaked with acetic acid in the ear for at least the first day of treatment
- Must be used many times a day
Pharmacist tips for Acetic acid
- Only use acetic acid in the ear. Don't place the medication anywhere else in or on the body because it might be harmful.
- Use acetic acid ear drops exactly as prescribed. Don't change your dose or suddenly stop using the medication, even if your infected ear gets better. Stopping your treatment course too soon can cause the infection to come back and be harder to treat.
- Make sure to wash your hands before and after putting acetic acid drops in your ears. Don't let the dropper tip touch your ear or any other surface, and don't touch the tip with your hands. This helps prevent the ear drops from getting contaminated with germs, which will help you avoid future or worse infections.
- Gently clean and dry your ear before you use acetic acid. Remove all dirt and wax in the ear so that the medication can get in direct contact with the infected parts of the ear.
- How to use acetic acid ear drops: Lie down or tilt your head with the affected ear facing upward. Pull the ear back and upwards, and place the drops into the ear. Then, gently press the triangular piece of skin over the ear (the tragus) to help the medication get into the ear better. Keep the affected ear facing upwards for at least a few minutes. Use a clean tissue or cotton ball to lightly wipe away any extra medication that comes out of the ear after you get up.
- It's normal to feel some stinging or burning in the ear, especially when you first start using acetic acid, because of the inflammation in your ear. This should go away as the ear starts to heal.
- Talk to a healthcare professional if your symptoms (e.g., pain, itching, redness, hearing problems) don't start to get better after a couple days of using acetic acid. Swimmer's ear can sometimes become a more serious problem, so it's best to treat it as soon as possible.
- Store the acetic acid ear drop bottle at room temperature.
Acetic acid dosage
The average cost for 1 ear dropper of 15ml of 2% of Acetic acid is $17.15 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 44.23% off the average retail price of $30.75. 
Ear dropper
Ear dropper| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15ml of 2% | 1 ear dropper | $17.15 | $17.15 |
Typical dosage for Acetic acid
Soak a piece of cotton with acetic acid and place it in the infected ear(s). Or, you can place the cotton in the ear first and then wet it with the acetic acid drops. Leave the cotton in the ear(s) for at least 24 hours. Make sure to add 3 to 5 drops of acetic acid every 4 to 6 hours to keep it wet.
Remove the cotton after 24 hours, but continue placing 5 drops of acetic acid in the infected ear(s) 3 or 4 times per day, as directed by a healthcare professional. Some children with smaller ears might only need 3 or 4 drops at a time.
How much does Acetic acid cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Acetic acid (generic)
$17.15
Acetic acid contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Acetic acid will not be safe for you to take.
- Perforated eardrum (also known as ruptured eardrum)
What are alternatives to Acetic acid?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Acetic acid. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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