What is Surfer's Ear (Exostosis)?

Surfer’s ear is extra bone formed as lumps that grow in the ear canal. The cause of it is exposure to cold water (below 68f) and wind, especially the combination of the two as the wind creates a chill factor when your ears are wet. The extra bone growth, also called exostosis is believed to be the body’s defense mechanism to protect the eardrum.
Dr. Hetzler is definitely one of the foremost within his field and to call him the ‘Kelly Slater of surfer’s ear surgery’ seems like a fair analogy or even ‘the Michelangelo of the ear canal’. Hetzler began developing his own way to perform the surgery in 1998 and since then he has successfully operated on over 2300 ear canals. Patients from all over the world are traveling to Santa Cruz to get their ears fixed by him - using chisels - no drills, no lasers, and no cuts behind the ear.
Click here to learn more about surfer's ear: surfears.com/s...
Click here to learn more about Dr. Douglas Hetzler: surfears.com/2...
Video: Sean Kobi Sandoval

[@djtanikgotbeatz]

Heard about this now I wear ear protection. Good thing I started it doon

[@billbright1755]

Area between tympanic membrane and bone growth in auditorial canal. Protrusions that essentially narrow and block function of normal sound admission and water drainage. Difficult to clean properly.
Exposure to cold waves and wind seems to initiate these bone growths into ear canal. Ear plugs and dry ears throughly after surfing. Left untreated the area could result in harmful bacteria and wax compaction zone. Neither conducive of good ear health.