Have you ever considered the impact that regular bodyboarding or surfing can have on your ears? Exostosis or Surfers Ear can ruin your surfing and give you long term issues.

It's common for bodyboarders to go out and enjoy the ocean without really giving too much thought about ear protection. Although this might seem fine in the short term, the chances are that problems may begin a few years down the line.

In today's video, Rob Barber from Bodyboard Holidays takes you through the various ways you can protect and shield your ears from the constant attack of salt water and help stop surfers ear during bodyboarding.

● Issues Caused - Repeated exposure to cold water or wind can cause permanent damage to your inner ear, this is called exostoses. More commonly known as ‘surfer’s ear’, it is a condition in which your ear canal bone begins to develop small growths. If left untreated or ignored, you could find that your hearing becomes partially or fully blocked and would require surgery to repair it.

Luckily this is preventable and taking precautionary measures is something we would definitely recommend. From home made DIY ear plugs, to professionally made custom ones - this video explains how you can best protect your ears on any budget.

● Blu Tack - You probably won’t even have to leave the house to make these. Squeeze a small bit of blu tack into the shape of a mushroom and press the small end into your ear. The tackiness allows it to stick to your ear perfectly, preventing any water from entering. Unfortunately it has the same effect on sound and you will struggle to hear what’s going on around you.

● Custom Fit Plugs - Brands such as Surf Plugs, as shown in the video, take an impression of the inside of your ear and create your own uniquely shaped ear plugs. These allow some sound in whilst keeping the water out. Although any water that does happen to get in can stay stuck in your ear for a number of days. Frustrating at best. https://surfplugs.co.uk/

● Surf Mould Pro - Designed by healthcare professionals, we have been trialling these for a while now and are super impressed! Again, these are custom shaped to your ear but they are more flexible than other plugs on the market, making them much comfier to wear over longer periods. What’s more, they contain an internal hydrophobic membrane which means you don’t have to sacrifice your hearing at all. We can’t recommend these enough! https://www.surfmouldpro.co.uk/

The earlier you begin to use ear plugs, the better chance you have of avoiding surfer’s ear. We strongly recommend investing in a decent pair of plugs so you can safely enjoy those waves for longer.

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