Ear Piercing Infection Signs
To identify an infected ear piercing, its fairly easy to notice the symptoms that include yellow, pus-like discharge; swelling; redness; ongoing pain or tenderness; and itching and burning.
Simply so, when should I be worried about 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.
The earring clasp becomes embedded in your skin. The infection doesn’t improve with home treatment within two days. You develop a fever. The infection, or redness and inflammation, spreads beyond the piercing site.
Also to know is, should I take my piercing out if it’s infected?
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.
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.
Is my ear 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 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).
Why is there a bubble by my piercing?
Unfortunately, bumps are relatively common with cartilage piercings. They can form soon after your initial piercing or long after it’s truly healed. If you still have a bump after the initial swelling subsides, it may be: a pustule, which is a blister or pimple that contains pus.
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.
What happens if you leave an ear piercing infection untreated?
“Untreated infection could lead to more complicated infections that require drainage and oral antibiotics,” Fusco said.
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.
How do you know when an infection is serious?
More severe infections may cause nausea, chills, or
- the wound is large, deep, or has jagged edges.
- the edges of the wound do not stay together.
- symptoms of infection occur, such as fever, increasing pain or redness, or discharge from the wound.
How do I treat 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.
Can an infected earring make you sick?
If you show any signs of infection (skin getting redder around the piercing, swelling, increased pain, pus or discharge, fever), see your doctor or nurse practitioner right away, or go to an urgent care clinic.
