Santa Cruz, California, is an area that serves as a great hub for surfing enthusiasts. But more than a fair amount of seasoned surfers and their medical professionals may also be familiar with an irritating condition known as surfer’s ear. Surfer’s ear manifests in the form of bone growth within the ear canal in response to the combination of wind and water inherent in sports like windsurfing, sailing and diving.
The general symptoms of surfer’s ear will be unevenly pronounced; whichever side of the head tends to face the wind and makes contact with the waves will be more advanced. Said symptoms include fleeting or constant reduction in the ability to hear, difficulty in draining water and dislodging things like sand grains or wax, and an acute risk of painful infection from the plugged ear canal.
Treating the Problem
Surgery is the common solution in cases of surfer’s ear. Such surgeries involve general anesthesia and a binocular microscope, coupled with a drill or 1mm chisel. Depending on the nature of the growths, the surgeon will approach the problem through the ear canal or make a cut behind the ear. Note that this is a treatment and not a cure; surfer’s ear can continue to manifest if a person continues to engage in the relevant activities.
Preventing the Condition from Becoming a Problem
While wet suits have become a standard means for people to surf in cold water, they offer no protection for the ears. While the best advice is to steer clear of intense cold or high winds, adamant surfers are encouraged to do their best to keep their inner ear as warm and dry as they can through equipment like plugs, a neoprene hood, swim cap or, in the near future, ear protection that incorporates the qualities of earwax.
Using Earwax to Protect the Ear in a New Way.
Curiously, recent research into the properties of earwax has revealed that the substance has the potential to be used as a reservoir. After Alexis Noel, of Georgia Tech, recalled a recent diving trip with her boyfriend that had left water trapped in his ear. After consulting with a physician, the two discovered that the water had been held back by a high amount of earwax. This buildup issue inspired Noel to look into the potential benefits of such a substance as a filter, or an inspiration for new filtration methods.
Her research indicated that earwax is non-Newtonian fluid that is actually uniform in consistency across multiple animals, having analyzed samples from rabbits, dogs and various livestock. Noel’s data regarding similarities across a broad spectrum of animal types points to earwax being a competent medium for protecting ears. As a non-Newtonian fluid, earwax is very thick and viscous if left to its own devices but its viscosity changes when forces are applied to it, such as the movement of the jaw while eating or talking. Further research indicates that earwax is an excellent filter that snares particulates; wax that collects too much dust becomes crusty and naturally detaches from the rest.
Should Noel’s research pan out, we could be seeing a future where a fabricated analog to earwax is applied to ventilation systems, robotics, computers or even the ears of surfers, kayakers and other water sports enthusiasts. While the first few points are great, that last sector should be welcome news for any Santa Cruzeños whose schedules conflict with the best days to hit the waves or who want to hit the beach more often during fall and winter.