I got my ears pierced about 4 days ago. I've been taking care of them with the antiseptic, turning them every day, never taken them out (not planning to until my 8 weeks are over). I've done everything I'm supposed to do.
Now...
My right ear hurts if I touch it or if I tug on it. slightly only...but it looks a liiittle bit red (but my left ear's fine) but there's no oozing pus or anything like people say there is if there's an infection. I guess I'm just kind of worried. only signs are slight swelling and slight redness... IS it an infection??? what do I do? I'm scared
or is it just that my ears are just a bit irritated and are trying to settle in and live with a hole in the middle of it?
2006-11-14 13:58:55 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Skin Conditions
"When there is a problem, it is usually infection during the healing phase of the piercing. Any type of surgical procedure, whether it is a tongue piercing or a kidney transplant, carries a risk of infection associated with it, even if sterile technique is followed scrupulously. Skin bacteria is almost always the culprit---typically not from the piercing procedure itself but from contact during aftercare. Good hand-washing is first and foremost the prevention for infection in any wound care."
I've got 13 piercings...so far all of mine have turned a little red and a little swollen after I've gotten them done. Redness isn't always a sign of infection. It is also a sign of the healing process. Just make sure that you keep it clean and use a q-tip to apply the cleaner so that you dont transmit the bacteria from your hands to the open area.------personal experience
2006-11-14 14:10:19 · answer #1 · answered by Jaylee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First: Ditch the rubbing alcohol. That stuff is very bad for piercings. Use salt solution instead - a pinch of salt in half a mug of boiled water. Swelling at this time is quite common, but you've been playing with the piercing alot and did you have it done professionally? If not you are very prone to infection. Stop taking out the earring, you are meant to keep it in. Everytime you remove it and replace it you are damaging the healing fistula and causing irritation and making it more prone to infection. Leave it in, clean it three times a day with the salt solution and keep a close eye on it. If it starts to show signs of infection (redness, soreness, itchiness, pus, blood), then go to the doctor.
2016-03-28 05:59:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry chick, that could be a beginning of an infection. What you are describing is called inflammation(redness and irritation). to prevent infection apply fucidin cream with a cotton tip applicator on your ear lobe at the puncture site . Don't forget also the site on the back of your ear. apply it 4 times a day without removing the earing. you might stop use the antiseptic when you apply fucidin. antiseptics like alckohol can kill the normal flora on the skin not helping it in the healing process
2006-11-14 14:20:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as there is no puss or oozing, you should be fine. It could be that you slept on it or bumped it with the brush and it just aggitated the new wound in your ear. I have had my ears pierced since I was 3 or 4 (I'm 27 now) and I will still have some redness and soreness once in a while.
What are your earring made out of? You may have an allergy to the metal in the earrings.
2006-11-14 14:05:40 · answer #4 · answered by irishkittie79 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be a slight infection but more than likely it's just your ear is getting used to having something poked through it. Just clean the area around the posts really well and keep doing the turning. Take some Tylenol if you are worried. You might have snagged a ear on something and it got irritated (pulling on a shirt/sweatshirt, whatever)
2006-11-14 14:01:53 · answer #5 · answered by kath68142 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be just that. But the stuff they give you is very mild and I always have had to use peroxide. That's just me. I use a cotton ball and Q-tip to get in and around that earring so it will kill all the germs and then see how it does. If it still feels sore. use a little antibacterial ointment on it at night, Do what you have to to keep the infection down. Good luck. Make sure the hands are washed well before touching those ears, that's how they get infected.
2006-11-14 14:03:05 · answer #6 · answered by MISS-MARY 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No don't worry. My ear was once infected and when it was, the WHOLE EAR WAS NASTILY SWOLLEN and yours aren't, so it's ok.
It's normal if it slightly hurts if you touch/tug it. Redness and SLIGHT swelling is normal too.
Yes your ears are just trying to settle in with the whole in there so no worries dear!
2006-11-14 14:02:06 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're fine. If you only got them pierced 4 days ago, they should still be a little red. Don't touch it, keep cleaning it with antiseptic, never use alcohol on it, and it should be fine.
2006-11-14 14:01:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have sensitive skin. I know when I got mine pierced they felt like they were burning for probably 3 months. I followed everything they told me to do. You should be fine. Once your holes are permanently open I'd give them a break every now and then.
2006-11-14 14:03:33 · answer #9 · answered by milldogg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If i was you i would see a doctor because the longer your ear hurts the infected it will get and at night you will not be able to sleep.
2006-11-14 14:04:02 · answer #10 · answered by Pr!Sc!11@ @K@ G@bY 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋