Hi. It is very important that your ear remains dry to allow healing of the ear drum. The best way to keep your ear dry is by preventing the entry of water into your ears especially during bath. You can achieve this easily by placing an ear wick soaked in vaseline into your ears while bathing. Also you need to ensure that you manage any cold or sinusitis promptly so that any infection doesn t climb into your ears from your nose (via the eustachian tube). It is advised to dry mop your ear using a cotton wick three to four times every day. Avoid using an earbud to prevent canal and drum injury. If there is active ear discharge, you may need oral antibiotics, mucolytics and nasal decongestants for 3-5 days. The hole in the ear drum heals slowly over 2-3 months. If the size of the hole doesn t improve in 2-3 months then it is recommended that you see your ENT specialist to freshen the margins of the ear drum inorder to re-initiate healing. If the hole still doesn t close in 2-3 months then surgical closure is indicated. The flaky covering lining your ear canal is probably dried up secretions. You can let these be, they will fall out as the skin on your ear grows outwards. Avoid inserting anything sharp in your ear. A hearing test and culture tests of your ear discharge is also advised. Do let me know if I can answer any further questions.