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.
Beside this, how do I treat an infected ear piercing?
Treating New Pierced Ear Infections (during first 6 weeks):
- Don’t take out the earring! Clean the infected area 3 times a day.
- Wash hands with soap and water before touching the ear or earring.
- Use cotton swab (“Q-Tip”) dipped in pierced ear solution (see #3 below).
- Clean exposed earring (both sides).
Herein, how do doctors treat infected piercings?
Call your
- Over-the-counter medicines you rub on your skin, such as an antibiotic ointment.
- A warm compress applied to the piercing.
- Mild sea salt soaks.
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.
What to do if an old piercing gets infected?
Infections in old piercings
To treat an infection in an old piercing, people should clean the earring and both sides of the ear with saline solution, and handing it with clean hands. If the infection does not improve, spreads, or fever occurs, a person should seek medical attention.
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 is a good saline solution 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.
Is Neosporin safe for piercings?
NEVER USE: Bacitracin or Neosporin. Petroleum based ointments CLOG the piercing and make it difficult for your body to heal. … These products are too strong and will irritate your skin and piercing.
Is antibiotic ointment good for piercings?
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.
Is Tea Tree Oil Good for piercings?
Tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiseptic properties that make it a triple threat in piercing aftercare. Not only can it be used to care for certain piercings during their initial healing process, it can also be used long-term to minimize irritation and prevent infection.
How do you salt soak a piercing?
How to do a sea salt soak
- Pour 1 cup of warm water into a cup or bowl. Use distilled or bottled water.
- Add 1/8 to 1/4 of a teaspoon of the sea salt, and allow it to dissolve. …
- Dip squares of clean gauze or dressing into the sea salt solution and allow them to saturate.
- Apply them to your piercing.
What happens if your piercing gets infected?
As long as your infection is minor, you may be able to take care of it at home. If you‘ve had a cartilage piercing and it seems infected, seek medical treatment. These types of infections are harder to treat and may require oral antibiotics. Significant infections of the cartilage can require hospitalization.
What doctor treats infected piercings?
How can you treat an infected ear piercing? If you think you need to see a doctor, it’s really best to see an ear, nose and throat specialist or plastic surgeon if you can, Dr, Kaplan says. You may need oral antibiotics and, if you have any abscesses, they’ll need to be drained (fun!).
