How do I treat an infected 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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Similarly, 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.

One may also ask, how do I know if my new 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.

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.

10 Related Question Answers Found

Can I put Neosporin on my piercing?

DO NOTapply any ointment such as Bacitracin, Neosporin or any other “triple antibiotic” ointment on your piercing. These prevent oxygen from reaching the wound and form a sticky residue, which can cause complications. They are NOT designed for use on healing piercings.

What happens if infection gets trapped in piercing?

“When bacteria gets trapped in the piercing hole, it can have a hard time finding its way out. It can then multiply and create an infection,” said dermatologist Marina Peredo. Once your piercing heals fully, it’s less likely to get infected, but that doesn’t mean you’re totally in the clear.

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.

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.

Does salt water help infected ear piercings?

Then prepare a saltwater solution of 1 cup (0.24 liters) water with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir until the salt dissolves. Leaving the piercing jewelry in place, soak a cotton ball in the solution and place it on the affected area. Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue.

What saline solution is good for piercings?

Make a soaking solution by mixing sea salt and distilled water. Use pure sea salt (non-iodized) and not table salt, which contains extra chemicals that can irritate your piercing and dextrose (sugar) that can cause yeast infections.

How do you reduce swelling from a piercing?

Caring for a piercing site

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.

Should I pick the crust off my piercing?

After the first few days your body will excrete lymph as it begins to form the fistula inside your piercing. This lymph ‘crust‘ will likely collect on the jewelry or around the piercing. Do not pick at it. Piercings do tend to swell slightly — some more than others — during healing.

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.

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.