Surfer's ear in Japan.

Fifty-one Japanese professional surfers were examined in order to analyze surfer's ear. Forty-one cases (80%), 71 ears, were diagnosed as surfer's ear. In 19 cases (37%), 30 ears, the external auditory canals had stenosed by more than 50%. In general, surfer's ear begins to appear after 5 years and is further aggravated by continued surfing. The age at which surfing is taken up has no influence on the appearance of surfer's ear. Surfers who surf on northern (colder) coasts have severer surfer's ear than those who frequent the southern (warmer) coasts.