Caring for a piercing site
- 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.
Also to know is, how do you treat a swollen 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.
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. Infected ear piercings can also cause the earlobe to swell, even if the person has had a piercing for many years.
Keeping this in consideration, how long does swelling last after piercing?
Swelling and inflammation: Days 4–10
The swelling tends to increase for several days after the piercing, and it may last for a week or slightly longer . The wound may also bleed or ooze.
Should I take my piercing out if it’s swollen?
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.
Should I ice my piercing?
Turn the piercing: Rotate the piercing several times each day so that your earlobe does not swell around it. Ice: Ice helps decrease swelling and pain. Use an ice pack, or put crushed ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel and place it on your earlobe for 15 to 20 minutes every hour or as directed.
Can piercing infections go away?
In most cases, minor ear piercing infections go away within 2 weeks with proper home care. When to call a doctor. In some cases, home care might not be enough. If your earring or the backing is stuck inside your earlobe, you should seek care from a doctor.
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.
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.
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.
Why is my healed piercing swollen?
An infected ear piercing may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes the piercing oozes blood or white, yellow or greenish pus. A new piercing is an open wound that can take several weeks to fully heal. During that time, any bacteria (germs) that enter the wound can lead to infection.
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.
How do I reduce swelling?
Mild swelling
- Rest and protect a sore area. …
- Elevate the injured or sore area on pillows while applying ice and any time you are sitting or lying down. …
- Avoid sitting or standing without moving for prolonged periods of time. …
- A low-sodium diet may help reduce swelling.
Why is my piercing swollen after a month?
Cartilage piercings heal more slowly than earlobe piercings and are prone to irritation. In the first few days after getting your piercing, you may notice a bump or general swelling around the jewelry.
How long does tongue piercing swelling last?
Pain, as well as a range of other healing symptoms, are perfectly normal after getting a tongue piercing. You can expect the pain to last up to one month, decreasing with time. Tongue swelling usually lasts three to five days but can reduce that by drinking cold liquids.
