in much colder waters, which has increased the incidence and severity of surfer's ear for people who do not properly protect their ears. Avoid activity during extremely cold or windy conditions. Keep the ear canal as warm and dry as possible. Ear plugs Wetsuit hood Swim cap Diving helmet Treatment Surgery to remove the obstructing ear canal bone is usually performed under general anesthesia in an operating room and aided by the use of a binocular microscope. Most ear surgeons use a drill to remove the bone and may approach the area directly via the ear canal or by making an incision behind the ear and dissecting the ear forward. In using a drilling technique, it is important to keep the thin inner ear canal skin away from the drill to preserve the skin and allow optimal skin coverage at the conclusion of the surgery. Some doctors now prefer to use 1 millimeter chisels to remove the obstructing bone and enter directly through the ear canal. This technique enhances skin preservation. This technique may, in some cases, be performed under sedation with local anesthesia. During recuperation from surgery, it is extremely important not to expose the ear canal to water to minimize the chance of infection or complications. Depending on the condition of the ear canal and the surgical technique used, the ear canal may require several weeks to several months to heal. Unprotected exposure of ear canals to cold water and wind after treatment can lead to regrowth of bone and the need for repeated operations on the same ear. See also References External links Inflammations Surfing Diseases of the ear and mastoid process Sports medicine Surf culture