JHern
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2013
- Posts
- 121
- Likes
- 26
So I moved from California to Tokyo, which has had a heat wave of 4˚C (7˚F) higher than normal temperatures sustained for 2 months without breaking, not a single day of relief! I've lived in places previously that experienced severe heat waves, but they only lasted for 2-3 weeks, at most. A heat wave this strong and sustained, entering its 9th week without a break, feels kind of apocalyptic and I can't really believe it is still on-going. Apparently, this has been happening more frequently over the past 4 years in Japan, such that people have already become accustomed to considering it as the new normal. Mismanagement and poor oversight of the nuclear disaster in Fukushima has been accompanied by restrictions and curtailment of electricity usage, people are voluntarily expected to raise their A/C temperatures up to 28˚C or higher (83˚F+). Humidity has ranged from 60%-80% the entire time...and abnormally warm air can hold significantly more moisture than cooler air, so this amounts to a great deal more water.
In any case, high humidity means that any moisture inside the ear canal does not dry, and wearing cans exacerbates this problem. When I take off my phones there is a great deal more moisture and sweat around them than usual, and my ears are steamy. As a result, I have begun to have recurring inner and outer ear infections. My body is simply not dialed in to this climate...this heat (which produces sweat), this humidity (which prevents drying)...I can't even enjoy my headphones!
Anyways, I was wondering if there are any common remedies employed by those of you who have lived for a long period of time in humid climates, that a newbie like myself might not have discovered owing to my inexperience. I've read things like people putting drops of 99% alcohol around their outer ear canal, to help keep their skin dry, but it may be dubious advice that could make matters worse.
Any ideas? Advice?
In any case, high humidity means that any moisture inside the ear canal does not dry, and wearing cans exacerbates this problem. When I take off my phones there is a great deal more moisture and sweat around them than usual, and my ears are steamy. As a result, I have begun to have recurring inner and outer ear infections. My body is simply not dialed in to this climate...this heat (which produces sweat), this humidity (which prevents drying)...I can't even enjoy my headphones!
Anyways, I was wondering if there are any common remedies employed by those of you who have lived for a long period of time in humid climates, that a newbie like myself might not have discovered owing to my inexperience. I've read things like people putting drops of 99% alcohol around their outer ear canal, to help keep their skin dry, but it may be dubious advice that could make matters worse.
Any ideas? Advice?