<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.