22/05/2026
๐ Spend a lot of time in cold water? Your ears could be quietly changing shape.
Exostoses, also known as surfer's ear, are bony growths that develop inside the ear canal in response to repeated exposure to cold water and cold wind. They form slowly over time and can narrow the ear canal, making it harder for earwax to migrate naturally out of the ear: increasing the likelihood of blockages, trapped water, and ear infections.
Here are the questions Earworx nurses are most commonly asked:
โ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ? Exostoses themselves are not usually painful, but the blockages and infections they cause can be.
โ ๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ? Surfers, swimmers, divers, and anyone regularly exposed to cold water and wind are most at risk.
โ ๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐? Where they become extensive, surgical review may be needed by and ENT surgeon. In the meantime, professional ear care by those who understand the condition can help manage the symptoms, particularly earwax buildup, that exostoses cause.
โ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ค๐๐? Absolutely. If you spend regular time in cold wind or water, an assessment by a registered nurse is a smart step in protecting your long-term ear health.
Book with Earworx today on 1800 327 967.