What do I do if my earring is infected?

Treating New Pierced Ear Infections (during first 6 weeks):

1. Don’t take out the earring! Clean the infected area 3 times a day.
2. Wash hands with soap and water before touching the ear or earring.
3. Use cotton swab (“Q-Tip”) dipped in pierced ear solution (see #3 below).
4. Clean exposed earring (both sides).

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In respect to this, should I take my earring out if its infected?

If a new piercing is infected, it is best not to remove the earring. Removing the piercing can allow the wound to close, trapping the infection within the skin. For this reason, it is advisable not to remove an earring from an infected ear unless advised by a doctor or professional piercer.

Additionally, how do you know if a piercing is infected?

Your piercing might be infected if:

1. the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour)
2. there’s blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow.
3. you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.

Should you squeeze pus out of a piercing?

If you suspect your piercing may be infected, don’t try to wait it out. This will prolong your discomfort and may lead to further complications. You should never try to drain pus or fluid from the infected area. This can make the infection worse.

10 Related Question Answers Found

What antibiotics treat ear piercing infection?

Most infected ear piercings are caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and so you need an antibiotic that covers this bacteria, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin.

Should I take my piercing out if its rejecting?

The takeaway

Migration and rejection are some complications that can result from a new piercing. If you suspect something is wrong, take out your jewelry and talk with your piercer. A new piece of jewelry is often enough to stop migration and prevent rejection.

Can you put Neosporin on a piercing?

NEVER USE: Bacitracin or Neosporin. Petroleum based ointments CLOG the piercing and make it difficult for your body to heal. … These products are too strong and will irritate your skin and piercing.

What happens if an infected piercing closes?

If your piercing is actually infected, and you remove the jewelry on your own, the bacteria and pus can get locked inside if the hole closes up. Instead, see a dermatologist, who will likely swab the area for a culture and start a course of topical and/or oral antibiotics to treat the infected skin piercing.

What saline solution is good for piercings?

Make sure you look for a solution that has no preservatives and is labeled as an “iso-tonic saline” or “0.9% sterile solution.” Avoid saline solutions that are meant to be used for nasal irrigation and contact lens solution, as they contain preservatives that could irritate your piercing.

How do you treat an infected ear piercing bump?

If you aren’t experiencing severe symptoms, you may be able to use the following methods to treat your cartilage bump at home.

1. You may need to change your jewelry. …
2. Make sure you clean your piercing. …
3. Cleanse with a saline or sea salt soak. …
4. Use a chamomile compress. …
5. Apply diluted tea tree oil.

How do I get my ear piercing swelling to go down?

Home Treatment

1. Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.
2. Apply a cold pack to help reduce swelling or bruising. …
3. Wash the wound for 5 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day, with large amounts of warm water.
4. Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling.

Is my piercing infected or just healing?

According to Thompson, the telltale signs of an infection are simple: “The area around the piercing is warm to the touch, you notice extreme redness or red streaks protruding from it, and it has discolored pus, normally with a green or brown tint,” Thompson says.

Is it normal for piercings to swell?

Swelling is a normal part of the healing process for every piercing. … Some people swell very little, while others need to get even longer jewelry than they were pierced with to allow for excessive swelling of the pierced area.

How do you know if your body is rejecting a piercing?

Symptoms of piercing rejection

1. more of the jewelry becoming visible on the outside of the piercing.
2. the piercing remaining sore, red, irritated, or dry after the first few days.
3. the jewelry becoming visible under the skin.
4. the piercing hole appearing to be getting larger.
5. the jewelry looking like it is hanging differently.