Water sports enthusiasts face risk of ‘surfer’s ear’

Medical experts are warning about the risks of ‘surfer’s ear’ (exostosis of the external auditory canal) among enthusiasts of water sports such as swimming, sailing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.

Professor Mario Turri Zanoni, head of Otorhinolaryngology at Cantù Hospital and professor at the University of Insubria, explains that this condition involves a benign but progressive growth of bone tissue within the ear canal. This growth is an adaptive response by the body to chronic exposure to cold water and wind, which creates a humid and ventilated microclimate.

Early symptoms can be subtle, including a sensation of a clogged ear, difficulty eliminating stagnant water, and recurrent external otitis. In advanced cases, the narrowing of the canal can lead to impaired hearing. While most common in surfers, the condition can also affect sailors, divers, and regular swimmers, particularly those practicing in cold lakes or seas.