Surfer's Ear in Redondo Beach & Torrance: What Water Enthusiasts Should Know

If you surf, paddleboard, or spend consistent time in the Pacific, there's a condition quietly developing in your ear canals that you've almost certainly never been told about. It doesn't cause pain at first. It doesn't announce itself with dramatic symptoms. But over years of cold water exposure, it can progressively narrow your ear canals to the point where water won't drain, infections become chronic, and hearing starts to decline.

It's called exostosis — better known as surfer's ear — and it's one of the most underdiagnosed conditions among the water-active community in places like Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and the broader South Bay.

What Surfer's Ear Actually Is

Exostosis is an abnormal bone growth inside the ear canal that forms in response to repeated exposure to cold water and wind. The body responds to the cold stimulus by thickening and extending the bony walls of the ear canal — a protective reflex that unfortunately creates its own problems over time.

The growths develop slowly, typically over years or decades of regular water exposure. In the early stages, most people notice nothing at all. As the growths enlarge, water begins to get trapped in the canal more easily, taking longer to drain after a session. In more advanced cases, the canal can narrow significantly — enough to cause recurring ear infections, chronic fullness, and conductive hearing loss.

It's important to understand that surfer's ear is distinct from swimmer's ear (otitis externa), which is a soft tissue infection of the canal. Exostosis is a structural bony change. The two can co-exist, but they require different evaluations and different treatments.

Symptoms South Bay Water Athletes Often Dismiss

The symptoms of surfer's ear tend to build gradually, which makes them easy to rationalize. Water that used to drain from your ears within an hour now takes several hours, or overnight. You notice more frequent ear infections than you used to get. There's an occasional muffled quality to your hearing after a session that takes longer and longer to resolve.

Many people in the surfing community are aware of surfer's ear as a concept but underestimate how advanced their own case may be. If you've been surfing or swimming in the Pacific regularly for more than five years, it's worth getting your ears examined — even if your symptoms feel minor right now.

Treatment: From Ear Plugs to Surgery

For mild or early cases, the primary intervention is prevention: custom-fit surfer's ear plugs that block cold water and wind from the canal while still allowing sound through. These can meaningfully slow the progression of existing growths and are worth starting as soon as the condition is identified.

For moderate to advanced cases where the canal has narrowed significantly, surgical removal of the bony growths — called canaloplasty — is the definitive treatment. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and involves careful removal of the bone through the ear canal or a small incision behind the ear. Recovery typically involves several weeks out of the water.

The key variable is timing. Surgery for early-to-moderate exostosis is significantly more straightforward than surgery for advanced cases where the canal has become severely narrowed. Getting evaluated before symptoms become significant is the reason early diagnosis matters. Beach Cities ENT sees water sports patients from throughout the South Bay and can give you a clear picture of where your ears stand in one visit.

Beach Cities ENTs serves the South Bay surfing and water sports community from our Torrance office. Dr. Levine and Dr. Eivaz provide comprehensive ear evaluations for patients experiencing symptoms or concerned about surfer’s ear. If you spend regular time in the water and haven’t had your ears checked recently, call us to schedule an evaluation.