How do I treat an infected ear piercing?

Treating the infection at home

1. Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.
2. Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. …
3. Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments. …
4. Don’t remove the piercing. …
5. Clean the piercing on both sides of your earlobe.

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Moreover, 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.

Moreover, when should I be worried about an infected piercing?

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.

Will an infected ear piercing heal on its own?

Most infected ear piercings can be treated at home and will improve within a few days, although, in some cases, antibiotics may be necessary. If symptoms do not improve, the infection spreads, or there are other symptoms, a person should speak to a doctor.

10 Related Question Answers Found

What does an infected piercing look like?

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.

Is it normal for a new ear piercing to swell?

A 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 similar symptoms of swelling each time the ear is being stretched.

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 I reduce swelling?

Mild swelling

1. Rest and protect a sore area. …
2. Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down. …
3. Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time. …
4. A low-sodium diet may help reduce swelling.

What ointment is good for infected ear piercing?

Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue. Then apply a small amount of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (Neosporin, bacitracin, others), as directed on the product label. Turn the piercing jewelry a few times to prevent it from sticking to the skin.

How long does an ear piercing infection take to heal?

With proper care, most mild earlobe infections will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks. It is common to have mild infections come back without daily earring care.

Is my piercing infected or irritated?

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.

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.

What do doctors prescribe for infected piercings?

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 clean the crust off my piercing?

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.