How do you treat an infected cartilage 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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Keeping this in view, how do you know if your cartilage is infected?

Cartilage piercings

1. swelling.
2. redness.
3. pain.
4. tenderness.
5. burning.
6. itching.
7. yellow discharge.

Then, when should I see a doctor for an infected cartilage 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.

Is my cartilage 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.

7 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.

Can you put Neosporin on a cartilage piercing?

NEVER USE: Bacitracin or Neosporin. Petroleum based ointments CLOG the piercing and make it difficult for your body to heal. NEVER USE Rubbing Alcohol, Hydrogen Peroxide, Claire’s ear care solution.

What causes cartilage infection?

The most common type of bacteria that causes perichondritis infection is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Perichondritis is usually caused by an injury to the ear due to: Ear surgery. Ear piercing (especially piercing of the cartilage)

How long does an infected piercing take to heal?

Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home. With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.

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.

How do I know if my 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 antibiotics treat infected piercing?

Treatment / Management

Conservative treatment of minor local infections includes warm compress and over the counter or prescription topical antibiotics such as bacitracin or mupirocin. Oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin provide coverage for streptococcus and staphylococcus.