How do I fix an infected ear piercing?

Question

Two years ago, I got my second holes pierced. My left ear piercing got infected, so I let both piercings plug up. A month ago, I got my second piercings done again. Now my right piercing is infected. How can I fix this?? I really don't want to plug them up again, only to pierce them later. Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

I get this commonly.


What I did, when I got my ears pierced for the first time, I washed them thorougly, daily, with DIAL antibacterial soap for the first week or two. After that, I let them heal naturally, resisting the urge to peel back the scabs. Remember to turn your earrings (Even after they have healed, do it regularly. It helps remove buildup of body wax, salt from sweat, and other impurities).

When your ears get infected, LEAVE THE STUD IN THEM. Otherwise they WILL close up. However, when they DO get infected, take the stud out of the infected ear and thoroughly rinse it (The earlobe) with alcohol or hydrogen peroxcide (Whichever suits your fancy). While you are doing this, soak the post AND backing of the affected earring in alcohol.

Next, cover the affected earlobe piercing (Front and back) with Neosporin or whatever else antibacterial, healing cream you have. After you've done that, take out the soaking earring and backing and dry them thoroughly. Push the stud through the neosporin (It will help coat the inside of the piercing), ensuring it pokes through the neosporin on the back of your ear. Clasp the earring shut. The post backing will help keep the neosporin against the back of your earlobe as well, providing constant neosporin supply to both sides of your affected earlobe.



Do this at least once a day (I do it about twice a day for as long as I have the infection)


It will clear up in a few days if you follow this.



Good luck, and don't let your ears close up. It's easy to solve the infection. :)




Also, if you're planning on going out, do not wear studs (Especially at night). Wear wire backs. This will allow your earlobe to breathe, and will help dry it out. While you're at home, wear the posts and follow the regimen. :)

Answer 2

Here's an old fashioned way that was used for me, my friends.... If they feel tense you can use some olive oil and rub it on your ear with your fingers. Before that make sure that the infected area is washed with soap & warm water. Try to clean it several times a day with alcohol. Keep doing that 'till you feel that the infection is completely gone. The part that you wont like is that they used to take our earrings out and replace it with some thick 100% cotton thread using a larger size sewing needle and inserting it through the thicker end of the needle with the hole, and not the pointy one. But you have to keep applying the olive oil and clean it with alcohol while moving the thread several times a day so it would not stick. Once completely heeled, take out and replace with the earrings. Also check if the earrings are gold or platinum, 'cause if they're not pure to some people it will keep causing a reaction.

Answer 3

Here's an old fashioned way that was used for me, my friends....
If they feel tense you can use some olive oil and rub it on your ear with your fingers.
Before that make sure that the infected area is washed with soap & warm water. Try to clean it several times a day with alcohol. Keep doing that 'till you feel that the infection is completely gone.
The part that you wont like is that they used to take our earrings out and replace it with some thick 100% cotton thread using a larger size sewing needle and inserting it through the thicker end of the needle with the hole, and not the pointy one. But you have to keep applying the olive oil and clean it with alcohol while moving the thread several times a day so it would not stick. Once completely heeled, take out and replace with the earrings.
Also check if the earrings are gold or platinum, 'cause if they're not pure to some people it will keep causing a reaction.

Answer 4

No, don't use hydrogen peroxide! It only keeps your ear infected. I thought that worked too when i got my ears peirced, and they got really infected. I talked to a piercer and they said no on the hydrogen peroxide. Try Sea Salt for peircings. You can get it at peircing shops and Walmart, I think. Also, if nothing else works, just try soap and water and dont mess around with it too much. You might want to talk to a professional peircer if it gets too bad. Try nickle free earings, too b/c u could be allergic

Answer 5

Hydrogen Peroxide, kills the germs and can get rid of the puss (I imagine there's puss if it's infected) This really should have ben used as soon as you got the piercing so it won't be come infected and if you can stand it once in a while rubbing alcohol.

Answer 6

Clean it w/ something like hydrogen peroxide 2-3 times a day. if it gets really bad see a doctor.

Answer 7

i would put rubbing alcohol on the ears. or go a doctor about the ears being affected.

Answer 8

perioxide (to clean) and alcohol (disinfect). If it doesn't get better in two days, remove the earring and consult a doctor.

Answer 9

take them out.they will not close up.let them heal.all the way.you might have to punch em through the back when u put em back in but it's not bad.try only wearing them for a couple hours at a time and try metals like 18 kt white gold.works the best for me.

Answer 10

you should get alcahol and wash your earings in it and then wash your ears realy well in the shower and wash your ears with the alcahol too
good luck!