Any expert advice on ear piercing please?

Question

My son had his ear pierced 4 weeks ago and in the last few days he has been complaining of itching where the stud is. I think he has been scratching it a little and just behind the ear the skin has gone slightly red and also slightly "flaky" on the lobe which is also red. I treat it 3 times a day as instructed and was wondering whether to take it out, take him to the doctor or there was a way to make it stop itching. Sensible answers only please. Thanks.

Answer 1

please ignore the advice from the beautician-who has NO knowledge of body piercing-and the one saying to use peroxide or bacitracin (amazing nobody reads the packaging-ointments arent for puncture wounds, piercings are a puncture). I'll assume you've taken him to claires or some mall shop to get it pierced with a gun, and they gave you a bottle of cleaning solution. Stop using that, it is entirely to harsh and is drying out the lobe, it contains alcohol. The cause of infection is the introduction of bacteria to a wound-its unlikely from what you describe that its infected but please remind him that he must keep his hands away from this area unless they've just been washed. Get sea salt (grocery store-not table or epsom) and mix 1/4tsp to 8oz warm water and soak his lobe for 10min 2x a day. This will get blood flow to the area to help it heal (much like a cut does in the ocean). The body is an amazing machine that can heal itself wonderfully with little to no help from us, just a bit of common sense to keep germs away. No need to remove the jewelry unless you think it could be an allergic reaction which mostly commonly acts as an infection and will swell and turn a bit shiney and warm (this sounds like irritation and drying-but i cant see it in person). Doctors arent well versed in how a body heals a piercing so when in doubt go to a body piercing studio and have them take a look and advise you.

Answer 2

Basically what has happened is that you have taken your son to a ear piercist and they have done the Ina unhygienic and this person was probably;y not trained or qualified in the first place to do the job which is illegally. They have not followed the rules of hygiene of health and safety or given any after care advice and the haven't done a good job.my advice to you as a beautician is for you too immediately remove the studs from his ears then with a little bit of dettol or savlon using cotton wool apply it too his ear lob es and behind his ears after you have cleansed them thoroughly.

You will find that this will help relieve it .

Also if I were you take him straight to his GP and get him seen to as soon as possible as he might have an infection .they may be able to prescribe him antibiotics. basically do not get his ears pierced again.

if you do go to somebody who is both registered, trained experienced, qualified and certified by the local health authority but really why do you want to get your sons ears pierced?

If i were you do not have it done again by that ear piercist. make sure though that in the morning and the evening before he goes to bed that when he washes his face that he cleans through;Ly behind his ears neck etc so there is no dirt there and then apply salvon or detol or withchazel to the area that might help..

Answer 3

Cleanse the puncture with hydrogen peroxide several times a day. Check for redness of the ear lobe, if it is present, there is an infection. In some states you can buy bacitracin ointment or a tetracycline ointment, these will work...apply three times daily after the wound is cleaned.

Answer 4

Although you have been cleaning it as instructed is your son a child? If the ear is irritating he is likely to touch it with dirty hands hence he could have an infection. it does not matter how small the break in the skin you can still get an infection in it. If the area feels hot to the touch and is not getting any better it might be worth getting it checked by your GP

Answer 5

It does take a while to settle down... if think red and flaky is okay - are you putting surgical spirits on? That's the best when you first have them piecred...

I know my mom is allergic to anything that isn't gold... but her allergy shows by her earlobe's swelling up and being quite painful, so I'm thinking that your son's slightly red/itchy earlobe is probably just the ear-ring settling down....

Answer 6

mmmm, dont go to the doctors because all you need to do is take it out for a while or change the stud itself or maybe the stud is tight in the ear well in that case just loosen it bit from the back

Answer 7

I just got mine done a few weeks ago and the shop (Claires) said if anything like that happened I should go back and see them then they would advise me if I need to see a doctor or just remove the earrings.. Go back to where he got them pierced and they will be able to help.

Answer 8

Infection of pierced ears is common. The best and possibly only treatment is to allow the piercing to heal up.

Answer 9

contact dermatitis due to Zn is very common, remove the stud which may contain Zn then treat the dermatitis , after complete cure use stud of different metal.
also rule out possibility of keloid formation.

Answer 10

I wouldn't take it out. Usually, itching means a sign of healing. but if he continues to scratch it that will cause it to get red & somewhat infected.