Imagine this: You’re in Bali, the sun glows golden over Uluwatu Beach, the waves are rolling perfectly, and life feels as smooth as the sea breeze. After a few great surfing sessions, though, something feels off… Your ear suddenly feels blocked, and sounds become muffled.
This is one of the most common travel health issues we see in Bali: ear blockage caused by wax (earwax impaction). It might sound minor, but it can ruin a perfect holiday or even cause pain during flights and dives.
At Nusa Medica Clinic, we often treat travelers, surfers, and divers who come in with blocked ears after swimming or surfing. The good news: most cases are easily solved through ear irrigation or professional ear wax removal.
Earwax is a natural protection mechanism. It traps dust and debris, prevents infection, and keeps your ear canal moisturized. However, when the ear is repeatedly exposed to water (especially saltwater) as in surfing or swimming, two things may happen:
Once it dries, it hardens and blocks the ear canal, causing:
Using cotton buds or bobby pins only makes it worse by pushing the wax deeper.
When wax accumulates to the point that it causes symptoms (hearing loss, fullness, tinnitus) or prevents proper examination of the ear canal or eardrum, that is cerumen impaction.
Bali’s ocean is paradise, but the combination of warm tropical water and high humidity makes surfer’s ear (or external ear infection) common. Repeated exposure to water removes the ear’s natural protection. Saltwater can also irritate the delicate skin of the ear canal.
For travelers who fly frequently or go diving, blocked ears can lead to barotrauma. That’s why ear cleaning near me is one of the top searches we see among tourists before or after a trip.
Professional ear irrigation and ear wax removal are safe, quick, and effective when done properly. At Nusa Medica Clinic , our medical staff will first examine your ear canal using an otoscope before choosing the best method:
Water-based, oil-based drops to soften the wax before removal.
A stream of warm water (or other suitable solution) is gently flushed through the canal to remove wax. Must be done cautiously: check the eardrum is intact, avoid if there are contraindications. This should never be done at home using unregulated devices.
These methods are much safer than home remedies or ear candles (both of which can cause burns or injuries).
Prevention Tips for Surfers and Travelers
A simple 10-minute ear cleaning can save you days of discomfort during your holiday.
You should seek professional help if you experience:
Prompt intervention can avoid complications like barotrauma, swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) or prolonged discomfort.
If you’re experiencing ear blockage, or simply want a preventive check before your next surf session, visit Nusa Medica Clinic in Bali.
Our travel & emergency medicine clinic provides:
We use modern, sterile equipment and ensure a quick, comfortable procedure so you can get back to enjoying the waves and music of Bali.
Don’t let a blocked ear silence your holiday.
Visit Nusa Medica Clinic for safe and professional ear cleaning in Bali
Quick, gentle, and done by trained medical professionals.
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