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.
One may also ask, how do I treat an infected ear 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.
Similarly, should I take out my infected ear 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.
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.
Should I squeeze the pus out of my piercing?
You should never try to drain pus or fluid from the infected area. This can make the infection worse. If your symptoms are severe, see your doctor. They may prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection.
Will an infected ear piercing heal on its own?
Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home. With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
How do you fix an infected 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.
Does ibuprofen help with infected piercing?
Take anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain and swelling. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
When should I go to the doctor for 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.
When should I go to the ER for an infected piercing?
If you get an infection that’s spreading up beyond just the site of the piercing, where the full ear appears red and swollen or just even the lower half of it, then I would be a lot more concerned about an infection in the cartilage itself, and that would definitely be a reason to go to the ER.
