Your piercing might be infected if:
- the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour)
- there’s blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow.
- you feel hot or shivery or generally unwell.
Secondly, how do I treat an infected piercing?
Treating the infection at home
- Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.
- Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. …
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments. …
- Don’t remove the piercing. …
- Clean the piercing on both sides of your earlobe.
- Don’t take out the earring! Clean the infected area 3 times a day.
- Wash hands with soap and water before touching the ear or earring.
- Use cotton swab (“Q-Tip”) dipped in pierced ear solution (see #3 below).
- Clean exposed earring (both sides).
One may also ask, is my piercing infected or 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.
Should I take my piercing out if it’s infected?
When to remove a piercing
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.
How do you know if your body is rejecting a piercing?
Symptoms of piercing rejection
- more of the jewelry becoming visible on the outside of the piercing.
- the piercing remaining sore, red, irritated, or dry after the first few days.
- the jewelry becoming visible under the skin.
- the piercing hole appearing to be getting larger.
- the jewelry looking like it is hanging differently.
When should I go to the doctor for an ear piercing infection?
Call your doctor if you experience any of these infection symptoms: Fever. Red, swollen skin around the pierced area. Pain when touching the pierced area.
Is Neosporin safe for piercings?
NEVER USE: Bacitracin or Neosporin. Petroleum based ointments CLOG the piercing and make it difficult for your body to heal. NEVER USE Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Claire’s ear care solution. These products are too strong and will irritate your skin and piercing.
What antibiotics treat infected piercings?
Antibiotics with good coverage against Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus species (e.g., fluoroquinolones) should be used when treating piercing-associated infections of the auricular cartilage.
How can I make my ear piercing heal faster?
To speed things up, clean the piercing every day with mild soapy water. Don’t irritate the skin around the piercing and avoid reopening the wound, which could slow down healing time. Give the tissue around the piercing plenty of time to heal before you change the jewelry.
How do I get my ear piercing swelling to go down?
Home Treatment
- Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the piercing site.
- Apply a cold pack to help reduce swelling or bruising. …
- Wash the wound for 5 minutes, 3 or 4 times a day, with large amounts of warm water.
- Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling.
How long does it take for a pierced ear to heal?
Earlobe piercings are the quickest to heal. They typically take about 1 to 2 months to fully heal. Cartilage piercings elsewhere on your ear will take longer to heal. It may take up to 6 months or even 1 year before a helix or tragus piercing is fully healed.
What happens if a piercing gets infected?
Without proper treatment, ear piercing infections can spread to the rest of your body. This is called a systemic infection. The infection can also get worse or form an abscess. An abscess is an area of the skin that is swollen and filled with pus.
Should I squeeze the pus out of my 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.
Is it normal for a piercing to swell after a week?
Piercings
A new piercing is an open wound, and swelling is part of the body’s natural reaction to any damage. Most people who get their ears pierced will notice pain and swelling for up to a week, sometimes more. People with gauges or plugs in their ears may notice swelling each time they stretch the ear.
