i changed to a small gold hoop recently. my ear has just got infected because i have been twisting the hoop.(Yes, my bad) it was sore last night so i put some of the special cleaner on it and this morning i noticed a big pus ball thing above the hole. does this mean it is trying to heal? if not whats wrong?
2006-10-21 23:47:21 · 18 answers · asked by Chloe C 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
First of all, make sure that the gold hoop that you have put in is solid gold. There should be no problem with twisting the hoop - and in actual fact can be beneficial - provided that the hoop is clean. The only problem that I can see here is that you turned the hoop the wrong way - that is, the 'catch' or the 'link' of the earring may have caused a scratch on your ear to allow infection in.
Gold as a metal is self sterilising, which is why it is used for this type of jewellery.
Special cleaner? I bet that was a bit pricey! Get some surgical spirit and clean your earring and ear with that. Put it on to cotton wool and clean both ear and earring at the same time by turning the earring around in your ear. It will sting for a short while but it does work. Do not remove the earring (unless it is not solid gold, in which case, take it out now!). The hole in your ear will just close up and you will have achieved nothing.
Pus is your body's way of trying to clean up the dirt - it is a bit like having snot when you have a cold!
Treat the immediate area and you should be okay.
Let us all know which way you decided to go and how it worked out for you! Good luck!
2006-10-22 00:08:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should really go see your doctor and have the ear checked. It may just simply be infected, which is why you see the pus and it's sore. It could also be an infection which involves the cartilage of the ear, in which case you need it taken care of properly and soon. I don't mean to frighten you, but infection involving cartilage can spread rapidly and deteriorate the ear itself. That will involve surgery to repair, and you don't want to even think of the looks afterwards. Take the earring out and go see the doctor to have it evaluated. If it's just a skin infection, that's great. If it's not, better to find out now while it's a small thing to fix. Until you see the doctor, keep it clean and don't mess with it, and leave the earring out.
2006-10-22 00:00:45 · answer #2 · answered by The mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well sweetheart, I'm no Dr. but I do know that I have15 holes altogether in my ears. I felt your pain, one of my upper-ear piercings did the same thing only it was just after the piercing. If you've had the hole since early summer it should be pretty good by now - it may have just gotten so irritated to the point of infection - maybe something in that particular cleaner didn't agree with it or irritated it more, as for healing, yes I think it's trying to heal, but you might want to use peroxide or rubbing alcohol to disinfect it and dry it out - also you may just be allergic to your earring. You could also just call the place that pierced it and ask them about it, unless you had a friend do it or did it yourself, then that's another story. . .. .. If you got it pierced at a shop then the best thing to do would be to call them or go in and ask about it. Hope I could help and good luck!
2006-10-22 00:03:58 · answer #3 · answered by insomniac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is badly infected. After 5 months (beginning of Summer) it should have been cured by now!!! I suggest besides cleaning it with the special cleaner, you should also apply a triple antibiotic solution, such as Neosporene. You can purchase it over the counter at any pharmacy or drug store. Clean it at least 3 times a day and apply a new dose of Neosporene each time. Better enough, you should go see a doctor. I don't want to alarm you, BUT I personally know someone that had part of his ear amputated after leaving unattended an infected ear piercing precisely at the top of the ear! Don't delay, act now for your own good. Hope you get well.
2006-10-21 23:56:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These piercings usually take anywhere from 4 to 6 months to heal. Pus is not good, it means infection so what you need todo is go get a surgical steel earring (and in your case a stud or very small barbell so that you don't play with it.) If you can go buy some Dr. Bronner's soap, its the best thing for piercings. I know they sell it online and in some grocery stores in the natural section. If you can't find it then use MILD anti-bacterial soap. You can also use Bactine or a Benzalkonium-chloride solution, it helps with the stinging and soreness. (only use this once a day, twice at the MOST)
Hope I was helpful!
2006-10-21 23:56:49 · answer #5 · answered by Michelle S 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is infected now. You can clean it constantly and stop touching it but it may not heal well. Use an antibiotic cream on it like poly sporin. Give it a day or two and if it is no better, take out the earing and keep cleaning. The hole will close but you will not get a greater problem.
2006-10-21 23:53:18 · answer #6 · answered by Gone fishin' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should remove the earring, and allow the pus to drain. Pus is a by product of infection! If I were you I would go and get it checked by a doctor as you may need some antibiotics to clear up the infection.
It wont start healing until the pus is gone, a dirty wound will not heal (consider the pus dirty!).
2006-10-21 23:50:03 · answer #7 · answered by huggz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That happens alot to the cartilage in your ears. If it has puss then it is infected and will attempt to heal. If you have a bump that may be a keloid and those will generally only go away once you remove the earring. Clean it once or twice a day when you shower and let it heal, if the bump does not go away and its presence bothers you, remove the earring and it will go back to normal.
2006-10-21 23:51:57 · answer #8 · answered by knufflebunny 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a similar problem when I had my eyebrow pierced. I was told to soak cotton wool in salt water and hold it over the pus ball thing twice a day, this should draw out the pus. I don't know if it's sound medical advice, but it worked for me.
2006-10-21 23:57:00 · answer #9 · answered by thelovethinguk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you could be allergic to the gold hoop. Take it out, steralise the original steel bar/ring and and clean your ear with saline solution and put the original back in. Keep cleaning the area with saline or mild salt water. If it doesn't get better soon go to your gp or the piecer who did it and see what they suggest. Most importantly keep cleaning it!!!
2006-10-21 23:59:02 · answer #10 · answered by meep meep!! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋