Luckily, there’s a super easy way to prevent—or get rid of—that funky smell if you notice it. You should clean your old piercings in the shower and let warm water run over it, says Maria Tash, owner of Venus by Maria Tash, a fine jewelry and piercing spa in New York City.
Likewise, what does it mean when your piercing smells?
The main reason piercings smell is a buildup of dead skin cells around the piercing and jewelry. The dead skin cells mix with oil naturally produced by the body and form a semisolid discharge. This happens with either mature or healed piercings, and is not usually a sign of infection.
Correspondingly, why do my pierced ear holes smell?
The smell comes from naturally occurring oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. Your ear piercing sites are the perfect breeding ground for this mixture. Oil, sweat, bacteria, and dead skin cells can all easily be trapped there and quickly start to smell.
Why do piercings get crusty?
Crusting after body piercing is perfectly normal—this is just the result of your body trying to heal itself. 1? Dead blood cells and plasma make their way to the surface and then dry when exposed to air. While perfectly normal, these crusties do need to be cleaned carefully and thoroughly whenever you notice them.
How do I get rid of the smell from my ear piercing?
Disinfecting. Rub alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the area behind the ears, especially after ear piercings. Be sure to follow your piercer’s directions for aftercare. Disinfect and clean earrings regularly as well.
Should I pop the bump on my cartilage piercing?
The short answer to whether you should pop the bump near your cartilage piercing or not is, “no.” You shouldn’t be popping anything, especially something close to a new piercing, regardless of why it developed. Popping a sore creates an open wound right next to your piercing, which, technically, is also an open wound.
How often should you clean healed piercings?
Clean them with antibacterial soap or rubbing alcohol once a week. For regular every day jewelry use warm water, cleanser, and a toothbrush. Pearl jewelry should be cleaned with mild soap and warm water as well.
How do I clean ear piercing holes?
Clean with a clean cotton pad or swab dipped in salt solution. You can make this solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Use this around the pierced area a few times a day to remove any bacteria. Dab (don’t wipe) the piercing.
