<B>Keep water away from your ear.</B> This is very important to prevent infection. You can use a shower cap. You can also put a cotton ball in your ear and seal it with petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline®). Any water that gets past the Vaseline is absorbed into the cotton ball. Remove the cotton ball after your shower, and wipe the outer ear with a clean tissue. You should keep water out of your ear until your doctor tells you otherwise.