Content

• Steps
• Warning

Earrings are an impressive way to express yourself, but sometimes piercings have a bad reaction, such as an infection. If you suspect an ear infection, the first thing you should do is contact your doctor for advice. Keep the wound clean when you get home to recover quickly. Cartilage ear piercings are susceptible to serious infections and leave ugly scars behind, so you should see your doctor immediately if you suspect an infection. While you are waiting for your recovery, be sure not to injure or irritate the infected area. Within a few weeks, your ears should return to normal.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Finding Medical Care

1. 

   See a doctor as soon as you suspect an infection. Serious complications can result from an infection that is not being treated. If your ears are painful, red, or draining pus, make an appointment with your GP.
   • An ear piercing with an infection may be red or swollen. You may feel pain, soreness or warm to the touch.
   • Any discharge or pus wounds should be checked by a doctor. Pus can be yellow or white.
   • If you have a fever, see your doctor right away. This is a much more dangerous sign.
   • The infection usually develops within 2 to 4 weeks after getting your piercing, although it is also possible that you may develop an infection many years after the piercing.

2. 

   
   
   Leave the earrings in place, unless your doctor tells you to remove them. Removing the piercings may interfere with recovery or cause an abscess. Instead, keep it in your ear until you see a doctor.
   • Avoid touching, twisting, or playing with the earrings you are wearing.
   • Your doctor will let you know if the piercings can be removed. If it is determined that you need to remove the piercings, your doctor will do it for you. Do not put the pier on again until your doctor says it is okay.

3. 

   
   
   Apply an antibiotic cream to the earlobe with a mild infection. Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic cream or suggest you buy an over-the-counter cream. Apply cream to the infection as directed by your doctor.
   • You can use some over-the-counter creams or ointments such as Neosporin, bacitracin, or Polysporin.

4. 

   
   
   Take prescription medication if the infection is more severe. If you have a fever or a more severe infection, your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic. You need to take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor. Be sure to finish the course of your antibiotic treatment, even if the infected area seems to be healed.
   • You usually need to take medication if the piercing is in an infected cartilage area.

5. 

   Drain abscesses if present. An abscess is a festering wound. If you have an abscess, your doctor will drain the wound. This is an outpatient procedure that can be done on the first day of your visit to the clinic.
   • Your doctor may apply a warm compress to your ear to drain the abscess or incision into the abscess.

6. 

   Surgery to treat a serious infection of the cartilage. The ear piercing on the cartilage is more likely than the one in the earlobe. If your cartilage piercing becomes infected, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. In severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove the cartilage.
   • Cartilage is the thicker tissue in the upper part of the outer ear, located above the earlobe.
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Part 2 of 3: Using home remedies

1. 

   Wash your hands before handling the wound. Your hands can spread dirty soil or bacteria, making the infection worse. Before you wash or treat the wound, wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.

2. 

   Use a cotton swab to wipe away any pus around the ear. Dip the tip of a cotton swab in antibacterial soap or saline solution and gently wipe off any liquid or pus. However, you should not remove the crusted layer on the wound, as the scabs will help the wound heal.
   • Throw away the cotton swab after you are done. If both ears are infected, use a cotton swab on each side.

3. 

   Wash the wound with a salt solution. Make a salt solution by dissolving 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) of salt with 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water. Dab a sterile cotton ball or gauze in the solution and gently wipe the front and back of the ear where the piercing is done. Wash 2 times a day to keep the wound clean.
   • You may feel a slight pain in the wound when wiping it with the salt solution, but it won't hurt too much. If the pain is severe, call your doctor.
   • Avoid rubbing alcohol or alcohol-based solutions on the infected area, as the wound can become irritated and take a long time to heal.
   • Gently pat dry with a tissue or cotton ball. Avoid using a washcloth, as it can irritate the ears.
   • If both ears are infected, use a new cotton swab or gauze to clean each side.

4. 

   Apply a warm compress to your ear to relieve the pain. Soak a washcloth in warm water or a warm salt solution. Hold the towel against your ear for 3-4 minutes. Repeat as needed to relieve pain throughout the day.
   • Use a tissue to gently pat dry after applying warm compresses.

5. 

   Take over-the-counter pain relievers to control the pain. Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can provide temporary pain relief. Take the medicine according to the directions on the medicine label. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Wound protection

1. 

   Do not touch ears or earrings unless necessary. If you do not wash the wound or remove the earrings, do not touch your ears. Avoid wearing clothing or accessories too close to the infected ear.
   • Do not wear headphones until the wound has healed.
   • Avoid applying the phone to the injured ear. If both ears are infected, turn on the speakerphone to listen.
   • If you have long hair, you should pull it up in a bun or tie in a ponytail so you don't get caught in your ears.
   • Avoid lying on the side of the infected ear if possible. Keep sheets and pillowcases clean to avoid spreading germs.

2. 

   Avoid swimming until the infection and your piercings heal. In general, you should not swim for 6 weeks after getting your ears pierced. If your piercing becomes infected, you need to wait for the infection to go away and your piercing heals before swimming.

3. 

   Wear hypoallergenic jewelry if you are sensitive to nickel. In some cases, you may be diagnosed with a nickel allergy without an infection. Wear pure silver, gold, surgical steel, or another material that does not contain nickel. These materials are less likely to cause allergies.
   • Allergies may manifest as dry, red, or itchy skin around the piercing.
   • The risk of re-infection increases if you continue to wear nickel jewelry.
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Warning

• If you have a cartilage infection, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Infected cartilage can develop scar tissue if not treated promptly.
• Do not try to treat the infection at home without first consulting your doctor.Staph infection (the most common form of skin infection) can lead to serious consequences if not treated properly.