Author:
Louise Ward
Date Of Creation:
9 February 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
Ear piercing infections are quite common, especially with newly pierced piercings. Most piercing infections go away within 1-2 weeks if cleaned twice a day. You can use a cotton ball or cotton swab dipped in salt water or antibacterial soap to wash it, then dry with a paper towel. Avoid alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, as these solutions can take a long time to heal. See your doctor if the infection spreads, if the wound doesn't get better after 2 days, or if you have a fever. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing, and prevent re-infection by avoiding swimming and remember to clean your mobile phone.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Wash infected piercing at home
Wash your hands before touching your piercing. Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your piercing, especially if the wound is new or infected. Use antibacterial soap and warm water. Avoid playing with earrings and only touch them when washing your hands.
Do not remove the earrings. If your piercing is new, you will need to leave the earrings in place for at least 6 weeks, even if you have an infection. Rotating your earrings when you first get your piercing is recommended, but you need to stop spinning for 1-2 weeks when your piercing becomes infected.- If the infected wound is a piercing that has healed or has been pierced for more than 6 months, you should remove the earrings during the treatment of the infection.
Wash the wound with a cotton ball soaked in salt water or soap. Soak a cotton ball or cotton swab in salt water or mild antibacterial soap and dab around the infected wound, finally dry with a disposable paper towel.- If available, use the saline solution provided by the piercing salon. You can also buy pre-made brine or make your own by dissolving 2 teaspoons of salt with 1 liter of warm water.
- If you use soap, choose one that is fragrance-free and alcohol-free.
- Wash your piercings 2 times a day. You can rotate the earrings while washing them while the piercing is still wet with salt or soap water.
Apply antibiotic ointment. After washing and drying it off, you can apply an antibiotic ointment to help the wound heal. Dab a small amount of the ointment on a cotton ball or cotton swab and apply a thin layer to the infection.
- Do not use the ointment if the wound is oozing or draining.
Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide will dry out infected skin and kill cells that are beneficial for the healing process. The infection may worsen when the white blood cells around the wound die. Avoid alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and make sure wound cleaning products are alcohol-free. advertisement
Method 2 of 3: See a medical professional
Contact your doctor if the infection does not improve after 2 days. Start by washing the wound 2 times a day. You should see signs of improvement such as less redness or less swelling after 2 days. If the infection gets worse or does not show signs of improvement, you should make an appointment with your doctor or visit a medical facility.
See your doctor if the infection spreads or if you have a fever. Keep a close eye on the infection during the first day. See your doctor if the infection spreads outside the piercing site or if you have a fever. These could be signs of a more serious infection and require treatment with antibiotics.
Ask your doctor to check for an piercing in the cartilage area for an infection. You should be very careful when handling the piercing in the cartilage area or in the upper part of the ear. To ensure safety, it is best to ask your doctor to check for infection in the cartilage area early. Infections in the cartilage area are more likely to become more serious, and in the long run can deform the ears, such as "cauliflower ears", causing the cartilage in the ears to become rough.
Talk to your doctor about antibiotic use. When you visit the clinic, your doctor may take a sample at the site of the infection to determine the type of bacteria that cause the infection.
- Ask your doctor if you should take an antibiotic, and which one will work best for you.
- Do not wash your piercings for at least 24 hours before seeing your doctor. Your doctor will need to take a sample at the site of the infection to make a diagnosis, and wound cleaning products can interfere with the test.
Suggest an allergy assessment test. Redness, swelling, itching, and other signs of infection can also be caused by allergies. If the test is negative, ask your doctor about allergy assessment.
- If this is your first time getting pierced, it is possible that you are allergic to metals. You can avoid an allergic reaction by using nickel-free earrings, as these are the most common allergenic metals.
- Your doctor can refer you to an allergist. You will be tested more closely to determine what could be the cause of the allergy.
Method 3 of 3: Prevent re-infection
Avoid swimming when first pierced. Always abstain from swimming for at least 2 weeks after getting your piercing. Stay away from swimming pools or natural pools and seas during this time, and be sure to clean your piercing with salt water after bathing.
- You should also avoid swimming while treating an infected piercing.
Do not let hair touch your piercing. If you have long hair, you should tie it neatly behind your back to avoid touching newly pierced or infected piercing. Wash your hair more often than usual.
- Be careful not to get hairspray or hair gel from your piercing and avoid hooking on your earrings when combing your hair.
Disinfect your cell phone every day. Cell phones are full of bacteria that can cause infections, so it's a good idea to disinfect your phone regularly even if there is no infection. Remove the phone case to clean both the phone and the back cover with a sterile wet tissue or a detergent spray paper towel.
- All the phones you are using should also be cleaned.
- You can also turn on the speakerphone when someone calls so you don't have to press your ear too much.
Remove the earrings when sleeping after the piercing heals. If the piercing is new, you should leave the original earrings for 6 weeks and wear the earrings continuously for 6 months. After 6 months, the piercing will heal completely and not be blocked.Once your piercing has healed, you should remove the earrings while sleeping to allow ventilation and prevent infection.
Piercing at a reputable facility. The cleaner the piercing salon, the less likely it is the piercing to become infected. You should review piercing facility comments prior to your visit. Make sure the piercing salon is licensed. When you go for a piercing, watch for staff wearing latex gloves and ask if they have equipment disinfecting equipment.
- Getting piercing at night markets or overseas during vacation is not a good idea.
- You should not ask a friend to get your ears pierced at home because you don't have the proper disinfection equipment.
Warning
- Although rare, the Hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C) can be transmitted by piercing with an unpasteurized device. Symptoms include bleeding, bruising, itchy skin, fatigue, yellow skin and eyes, and swelling of the legs.
