Earache Relief 101: What Actually Works and What Doesn’t

There are few things worse than a painful earache, especially when little ones are crying from ear pain at night. At eosera®, we’re obsessed with your ears, and we put together a guide to help you manage earaches so you can get back to do what you love.

Earaches can happen suddenly from colds, swimmer's ear, allergies, earwax buildup, or changes in air pressure. Fortunately, many mild earaches can be treated at home with over-the-counter ear pain relief, while others require medical attention.

How do you get rid of earaches fast?

Most earaches are mild and only last two or three days; however, that’s a long time to have painful, aching ears. For fast earache relief use doctor-recommended over-the-counter eardrops that contain lidocaine to numb the pain temporarily. The #1 doctor-recommended* brand, eosera® EAR PAIN MD®, has the maximum strength lidocaine available without a prescription. These eardrops for ear pain are safe for ages 2 and up; for patients younger than 2, consult your pediatrician. When earaches last longer than two or three days, or if you also experience a high fever, fluid, pus, or blood draining from the ear, sudden hearing loss, redness or swelling around the ear, or severe pain that stops suddenly, it’s time to see a doctor for your ear pain. Children under 6 months of age with ear pain should also go to the doctor right away.

What causes an earache?

If you’re wondering why your ears hurt, there are a few things you need to consider. The American Academy of Family Physicians says there are two primary causes of ear pain — otitis externa and otitis media — both are ear infections. Additionally, earwax buildup can cause ear pain due to excess wax pressing on the eardrum. Some people experience painful pressure in ears while flying or diving, and many report ear pain during colds, flus, and sinus infections.

Swimmer’s ear vs. ear infections

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is often caused by too much moisture in the ear, while middle ear infections (otitis media) are often caused by bacteria or a virus following colds or respiratory infections.

Before ear pain turns into an infection, eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS can help guard against infection while also providing temporary, fast earache relief over-the-counter. These liquid gel ear drops for pain contain antibacterial Thymol and were designed to stay in place for long-lasting cooling comfort.

When ear infections don’t resolve on their own, that’s when it’s time to go to a doctor. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic or antifungal drops to treat swimmer’s ear. It’s safe to use eosera® EAR PAIN MD® or eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS to help temporarily relieve ear pain while also taking antibiotics to treat the source of infection.

What helps ear aches?

When your ears — or your little one’s ears — are aching, you’ll do just about anything to relieve that ear pain. Thankfully there are several options to relieve ear pain quickly. According to the Mayo Clinic, ear infections often clear up without antibiotics, and many doctors recommend a “watchful waiting” approach. Here are some options to help relieve ear pain temporarily:

OTC Ear Drops for Ear Pain

One of the fastest ways to relieve earaches is with over-the-counter ear drops for ear pain. The #1 doctor-recommended* brand, eosera® EAR PAIN MD®, has 4% lidocaine to numb the ear canal on contact. These ear drops are safe for ages 2 and up, and available at most major retailers and online. As the Mayo Clinic notes, numbing ear drops can be used for short term pain relief, as long as the eardrum doesn’t have a hole or tear in it. Numbing drops can provide fast, temporary relief from ear pain, which is why many parents keep ear drops in their medicine cabinet to avoid those late night trips to the pharmacy when ear pain happens at night.

OTC pain medication

In addition to using ear drops for fast earache relief, many doctors also recommend using pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce inflammation. The Mayo Clinic cautions to be careful using pain relievers such as Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, and others. While aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teens recovering from the flu or chickenpox should not take aspirin.

Warm compresses and ice

A warm compress can help encourage the muscles around your ear canal to relax and let fluids flow better, while ice can reduce inflammation, according to Cleveland Clinic. For best results, try both. Simply alternate between a warm compress and an ice pack every 30 minutes. Make sure that the compress or heating pad is not too hot, and wrap the ice pack in a towel so it’s not too intense.

What doesn’t work for ear pain — common myths

Grandma has a lot of great advice — you really “can’t pour from an empty cup.” But when it comes to earache remedies, she’s sometimes wrong. Sorry, Nana! Here’s what you should avoid when it comes to ear pain:

Putting garlic in your ear

Yes, people really do that. Some people swear by garlic oil for ear infections, or tea tree oil, olive oil, you name it. Cleveland Clinic cautions against putting oils in your ear if you’re dealing with an ear infection.

Ear candles for earwax and pain

Does ear candling work? We know the videos online look effective, but this is a big no-no. Ear candling doesn’t work for ear pain, or for getting rid of excess earwax. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration strongly advises against using ear canals as they don’t remove ear wax and can cause burns, perforated eardrums, and hearing loss. If you have earwax buildup, try the clinically proven** earwax dissolving drops, eosera® EAR WAX MD®.

Eosera® EAR PAIN MD® vs eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS: Which ear pain drops are right for you?

Trying to figure out which earache relief drops from eosera® are right for you? Here’s a quick breakdown:

eosera® EAR PAIN MD®: 

When you need ear drops for pain, eosera® EAR PAIN MD® is a go-to. Whether you have an earache during a cold, allergies, or just general discomfort, doctors often recommend these ear drops.

• Original liquid drop formula
•  4% lidocaine to quickly, and temporarily, numb ear canals
• Maximum-strength over-the-counter ear drops

Perfect for earaches caused by:

• Allergies
• Cold and flu
• Seasonal changes
• Ear pressure on airplanes
• General ear discomfort

Eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS

When you need ear drops for swimmer’s ear, or simply need to guard against infection, eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS should be at the top of your list.

• Has antibacterial Thymol to help guard against infection
• Liquid gel formula designed to stay in place for long-lasting cooling comfort
• Also contains 4% lidocaine to numb your ear canals

Perfect for:

• Swimmers who are prone to infection
• When extra protection is needed
• Summertime activities that can cause ear discomfort

Note: EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS does not treat ear infections.

When to see a doctor for ear pain

While many doctors recommend a “watchful waiting” approach with ear pain, there are times when going to the doctor is recommended.

You should see a doctor for earaches if:

• Your earache lasts longer than two or three days
• You have a high fever
•  You see fluid, pus, or blood drain from your ear
• You have sudden hearing loss
• You have redness or swelling around the ear
• You have severe pain that stops suddenly
• Your child is under 6 months old

As long as you don’t have a perforation (hole) in your eardrum, it’s safe to use eosera® EAR PAIN MD® or eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS to help temporarily soothe ear pain. 

Whether you’re flying to the Bahamas, or planning a fun summer pool party, it’s important to always be prepared. Pack that sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat, and don’t forget to toss some eosera® EAR PAIN MD® in your beach bag!

Find fast, temporary ear pain relief with eosera®

Earaches can have many causes, from colds and allergies to swimmer's ear, earwax buildup, and changes in air pressure. While many mild cases improve within a few days, using the right over-the-counter ear pain relief can help make you more comfortable while your ear heals.

Knowing when to treat an earache at home, and when it's time to see a healthcare provider, is one of the best ways to protect your overall ear health. If your symptoms are severe, last longer than two or three days, or are accompanied by fever, drainage, swelling, or sudden hearing loss, seek medical care promptly.

Whether you're preparing for cold and flu season, packing for vacation, or stocking your medicine cabinet, having effective ear care products available before you need them can help you respond quickly when ear pain strikes. Explore eosera®'s complete line of ear pain relief, earwax dissolving, and itchy ear solutions to keep your ears healthy year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s the fastest way to relieve ear pain at home?

One of the fastest ways to relieve ear pain at home is to use over-the-counter numbing ear drops like eosera® EAR PAIN MD® and eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS.

Does ear candling actually work?

Ear candling is not an effective way to get relief from ear pain, or remove earwax from your ears. Doctors recommend earache relief drops like eosera® EAR PAIN MD®, and earwax dissolving drops, like eosera® EAR WAX MD® for earwax buildup.

What’s the difference between EAR PAIN MD® and EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS?

These ear drops for pain are both great options for earaches. When you have an earache caused by colds, flu, allergies, or airplane pressure, try the liquid drop formula of eosera® EAR PAIN MD®. When you have an earache after swimming, or need extra protection against infection, the liquid gel formula of eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS is the right choice. 

Is hydrogen peroxide safe for an earache?

If your earache is caused by earwax buildup, it is technically safe to use hydrogen peroxide (as long as you don’t have a perforated eardrum). However, some people don’t like the bubbling sensation in their ear. For an effective, clinically proven** method of dissolve and cleaning earwax from your ears, try eosera® EAR WAX MD®.

Can adults and kids use the same ear pain drops?

Yes, eosera® EAR PAIN MD® and eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS are both safe for children ages 2 and up. For children younger than 2, please consult your pediatrician.

How long should an earache last before I see a doctor?

If your earache doesn’t improve after two to three days, it might be time to see a doctor. It’s safe to use eosera® EAR PAIN MD® and eosera® EAR PAIN MD® +PLUS while you’re waiting for antibiotics to treat the source of infection. If earwax build caused ear pain, then try cleaning your ears with ear wax dissolving drops like eosera® EAR WAX MD®.

*eosera® EAR PAIN MD® is the #1 physician recommended brand for topical OTC ear pain relief.

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