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.
Beside above, how do I know if my helix piercing is infected?
Symptoms of an infected ear piercing include:
- swelling.
- redness.
- pain.
- tenderness.
- burning.
- itching.
- yellow discharge.
Additionally, what are the chances of a helix piercing getting infected?
Even with meticulous care, cartilage piercings become infected about 30% of the time.
How do you treat Helix infection?
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.
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.
How long does it take for a helix to stop hurting?
Cartilage ear piercings may take up to a year to fully heal, but generally take 3-6 months (as opposed to the ear lobe, that takes just 4-6 weeks). They heal from the outside in, so even if it looks fine on the outside, you should not assume it is fully healed.
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.
Why is my helix piercing swollen?
A cartilage piercing creates an open wound. As it heals, it may look swollen, lumpy, or like a bump. In the days immediately following a cartilage piercing, the body’s immune system triggers inflammation and swelling to heal the wound, sometimes leading to a cartilage bump.
How do I clean an infected ear?
Treating New Pierced Ear Infections (during first 6 weeks):
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).
Should I clean the crust off my piercing?
Crusting after body piercing is perfectly normal—this is just the result of your body trying to heal itself. 1? Dead blood cells and plasma make their way to the surface and then dry when exposed to air. While perfectly normal, these crusties do need to be cleaned carefully and thoroughly whenever you notice them.
What antibiotics treat infected piercings?
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.
How do you stop a helix piercing from getting infected?
How to prevent infections in new piercings
- choose a qualified, experienced and licensed piercer.
- clean your piercing twice a day.
- use warm, salty water to soften any crusting.
- gently turn the jewellery while cleaning the piercing.
- use a clean paper towel to dry the piercing.
How do you clean a helix piercing?
How to Actually Take Care of Your Piercings
- As a preventative measure, ask your piercer to use a needle, not a “gun. …
- Be healthy. …
- To care for a fresh piercing, wash with soap and water or saline solution—not rubbing alcohol—twice a day. …
- Create a routine for yourself.
Can helix piercings cause headaches?
Headaches are a less common side effect of piercing, though little medical research has been done. It’s possible that both getting a piercing and wearing jewelry in a piercing can cause headaches.
