Eardrum perforation how long to heal

Many of these medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Read the labels to make sure that you are not taking more than the recommended dose. Too much Tylenol can be harmful. Keep your ears dry. Take baths until your doctor says you can take showers again. When you wash your hair, use cotton lightly coated with petroleum jelly as an earplug.

Do not use plastic earplugs. Do not swim until your doctor says you can. If you get water in your ears, turn your head to each side and pull the earlobe in different directions. This will help the water run out. If your ears are still wet, use a hair dryer set on the lowest heat. Hold the dryer 8 to 10 centimetres from your ear. Do not put anything into your ear canal. For example, do not use a cotton swab to clean the inside of your ear.

It can damage your ear. If possible, don't fly if you have a cold or an active allergy that causes nasal or ear congestion. During takeoffs and landings, keep your ears clear with pressure-equalizing earplugs, yawning or chewing gum. Or use the Valsalva maneuver — gently pushing air into your nose, as if blowing your nose, while pinching your nostrils and keeping your mouth closed.

Don't sleep during ascents and descents. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Ruptured eardrum Open pop-up dialog box Close. Ruptured eardrum A ruptured perforated eardrum prevents the proper transmission of sound waves to the middle ear and leaves the middle ear vulnerable to infectious agents, water and other foreign substances.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Middle ear Open pop-up dialog box Close. Middle ear The middle ear includes three small bones — the hammer malleus , anvil incus and stirrup stapes. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Elsevier Point of Care. In some cases, healing takes months. Until your doctor tells you that your ear is healed, protect it by:. If you have signs or symptoms of a perforated eardrum, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or general practitioner.

However, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in ear, nose and throat ENT disorders otolaryngologist. If you think you have signs or symptoms of a ruptured eardrum, you may want to ask your doctor some of the following questions. If you think that you have a ruptured eardrum, be careful to keep your ears dry to prevent infection. Don't go swimming until your condition has been evaluated and discussed with your doctor. To keep water out of your ear when showering or bathing, use a moldable, waterproof silicone earplug or put a cotton ball coated with petroleum jelly in your outer ear.

Don't put medication drops in your ear unless your doctor prescribes them specifically for infection related to your perforated eardrum. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis Your family doctor or ENT specialist can often determine if you have a ruptured perforated eardrum with a visual inspection using a lighted instrument otoscope or microscope.

But it's a good idea to see a GP if you think your eardrum has burst, as it can cause problems such as ear infections. Signs of a perforated eardrum, or an ear infection caused by a perforated eardrum, include:. The symptoms will usually pass once your eardrum has healed or any infection has been treated.

Your eardrum will usually heal without treatment, but a GP can check for an infection which may need treatment and talk to you about how you can look after your ear. They'll look into your ear using a small handheld torch with a magnifying lens.