Some pain and redness are part of the normal healing process for pierced ears. It can be easy to confuse those with signs of infection. If there's a bump on the back of the ear piercing, it's not necessarily infected. Small bumps called granulomas can sometimes form around the piercing.
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.
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.
Pierced areas, especially sensitive areas like the navel, can get infected months and even years after they were pierced, though infections most often occur very shortly after the time of piercing, as that is when the portal door is wide open.
Just like infections, an irritated piercing can cause pain, swelling and redness. But it shouldn't cause the horrible discharge that comes with an infection. Other symptoms of irritation include a solid (non-fluid filled) lump around the hole or some slight peeling.
To avoid red lumps, NEVER fiddle with the piercing or knock it. If you do acquire a lump then leaving it completely alone is the best option, not cleaning it multiple times a day which just aggravates it even further. OVER CLEANING WILL CAUSE INFECTION !
An infected ear piercing can also develop years after a person got the original piercing. Usually, the infections are minor, and people can treat them at home without complications. Touching the piercing too often with dirty hands or not cleaning the area can lead to infections.
Causes of Infections Later After the Pierced Ear has Healed
Examples are a heavy earring or a rough area on the post. Reason: any break in the skin can become infected. Putting the post in at the wrong angle also can scratch the channel. Use a mirror until putting the earring in becomes routine.
Once your piercing heals fully, it's less likely to get infected, but that doesn't mean you're totally in the clear. You still need to clean your earrings frequently to prevent an infection.
Usually, the first three-four days are when the piercing is tender, there is mild bruising, swelling or a little bleeding. But the complete healing process can take three-four months.
When you have an infected piercing, your first thought might be to take your jewelry out. While that might seem like the best thing to do, it's best to leave this to your doctor. If your piercing is actually infected, and you remove the jewelry on your own, you may spread the bacteria.
What are the potential signs of an infected ear piercing? Your ear piercing might throb right after you have it done, and there's a chance there will be a little bit of fluid, blood, or discharge oozing from the area within the first couple of days too.
It's normal to have some redness, swelling or pain for a couple of days after getting your ears pierced. But your ears should look and feel better each day. If you find that your ears do great and then suddenly start to become red, inflamed or crusty a week or two later, that's usually a sign of infection.
If your doctor told you how to care for your infected piercing, follow your doctor's instructions. If you did not get instructions, follow this general advice: Wash the area with a mild soap and water 2 times a day. Don't use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
A piercing may not heal as fast if it gets infected or irritated or if scar tissue forms. You may need to see your doctor if your piercing does not seem to be healing.
The most common cause is simply increased friction between the ear hole and the earring. This is most easily remedied by putting petroleum jelly on the earring post and then inserting it into the ear. The petroleum jelly will lubricate the earring to reduce friction.
The healing process takes up to a month to complete and during that time your ear piercing will be sensitive and prone to infection or misalignment. Not only that but some piercings are just a complete pain to sleep with no matter how long ago they healed.
Let it heal
The short answer is you need to wait until your piercing is healed. Some jewellery is easier than others and some will require tools which means you need to go see your piercer to have it changed. New piercings are made with jewellery that is larger or longer to allow for some naturally occurring swelling.
Surface piercings such as eyebrows, neck, nipple and wrist tend to be rejected more easily than other piercings. That's because they do not travel directly through the body, but rather along an area of skin because the jewellery is puncturing only a small amount of the skin's surface.
Handle your piercing ONLY after washing your hands, and ONLY when it is being cleaned. Be sure to follow the cleaning directions outlined in the information below. Overcleaning can slow healing and cause irritation. Overcleaning is just as bad as undercleaning.
Sickness, stress, and fatigue will have a negative effect on the healing of your piercing. Get help if something goes wrong. If you feel your piercing is infected, contact us or a physician right away!
Don't touch a new piercing or twist the jewelry unless you're cleaning it. Keep clothing away from the piercing, too. Excessive rubbing or friction can irritate your skin and delay healing. Keep the jewelry in place.