Got my ear pierced, and I think it's infected. What should I do?

[pg22]

Hiya,

I got my upper left ear pierced a couple weeks ago and starting about a week ago, a small, circular area around the piercing has become more swollen and painful than after the initial piercing. Thus, I'm guessing it may have become infected. I grabbed some hydrogen-peroxide and I've been using that and rotating the piercing twice a day for a couple days, but it's not getting better.

Anyone else have some tips? Thanks!

 

[NutBucket]

See a doctor

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
See a doctor

 

[ndee]

cut your ear off and start a career as an artist.

 

[pg22]

nah

 

[Azraele]

Doctor.

 

[Ryan]

Try squeezing the puss out (it always helps!)

 

[ohtwell]

Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.


: ) Amanda

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.


: ) Amanda

you should hit the shower at least once a week

 

[ohtwell]

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.


: ) Amanda

you should hit the shower at least once a week

I shower every day thank you very much!


: ) Amanda

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.


: ) Amanda

you should hit the shower at least once a week

I shower every day thank you very much!


: ) Amanda

You must not be French.

 

[ndee]

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.


: ) Amanda

you should hit the shower at least once a week

I shower every day thank you very much!


: ) Amanda

pics? (*someone had to do it*)

 

[illusion88]

You have just about 2k posts here. You should know that ATOT is no place to ask for medical advise. If its a real problem you can go see a doctor. Not that big of a deal (unless you dont have health insurance in which case it could be expensive).

 

[pg22]

The reason I can't go to a doctor is due to the fact that I'm on my spring break, a couple states away from my home

Anyway, here's something I found on WebMD that says NOT to use hydrogen peroxide or iodine, which are the things I've been using:

Clean your jewelry with alcohol or hot, soapy water. Do not use rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or mercurochrome on the piercing site. These liquids can harm the tissue and slow healing.

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/45/11246

<-- is confused

 

[Pastore]

Kill yourself, homo.

 

[Spac3d]

You do realize they tell you to clean your piercings when you get them. It takes like 30seconds a day.

None of my piercings have gotten infected.

 

[pg22]

Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.

Well, I hope the lady on Venice Beach who pierced me, cleaned it As for taking it out, i was told not to do so for quite some time. So what I've been doing is taking a q-tip with a cleaning solution and rotating it around.

 

[Riprorin]

My view is that if there were a need for stuff being poked through your skin, your body would have came with holes.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: pg22

Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.

Well, I hope the lady on Venice Beach who pierced me, cleaned it As for taking it out, i was told not to do so for quite some time. So what I've been doing is taking a q-tip with a cleaning solution and rotating it around.

If you're squeamish or concerned, by all means take it out. No use driving yourself nuts with worry.

I can tell you that it's probably because it healed a bit, you got comfortable and started sleeping on it. which opened it up again and you're probably right it's infected. Which is not a big deal if you're diligent about cleaning it and handle it tenderly for a couple of months. try not to sleep on it.

 

[Mustangrrl]

I had the little triangular piece of skin (forgot what it's called) above my earlobe pierced, and it got really infected. I took the earring out, soaked it in alcohol and squeezed my ear and poured alcohol on it, stuck the earring back in and it was fine a couple days later. You can't use peroxide because it tears open the wound and it never heals. Good luck.

 

[Mustangrrl]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Try squeezing the puss out (it always helps!)

Um, it's pus, not puss!

 

[Angrymarshmello]

That happens a lot when you get your cartilage pierced. Just a matter of cleaning it better

 

[yoda291]

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: ndee

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Do you make sure the earing is clean before you put it in your ear? When my ear's get infected I soak my earings in hydrogen peroxide and try to touch the earing as little as possible. Make sure your hands are washed as well.


: ) Amanda

you should hit the shower at least once a week

I shower every day thank you very much!


: ) Amanda

pics? (*someone had to do it*)

I'm gonna second that motion.

 

[Looney]

Go to the pharmacy and have the pharmacist take a look at it... there are over-the-counter healing creams that will help... i forgot what they're called atm however.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Mustangrrl

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Try squeezing the puss out (it always helps!)

Um, it's pus, not puss!

Then what would squeezing the puss out be? :Q