Ear piercing question??

Question

I got my cartilage and lower ear pierced last Wednesday a total of 4 piercings, everything was going fine it was a little sore but it swelled and started stinging I posted a question yesterday asking about some ways that I could stop the swelling and pain, I tired peroxide-rubbing alcohol and bought some ointment I woke up in the middle of the night last night and my ear was the size of a orange, I took out the stud and clean it, as soon as I took out the stud blood started gushing out, I cleaned it and debated if I wanted to put the earring back in I came withn 3 inches of my ear and I knew it couldn’t be done- the pain is unbearable. I went to the doctor and she injected me with a shot to stop the pain it worked for about 5 hours and I’m back to pain (it feels like my ear is falling off).She also put me on antibiotics. I probably sound really dumb at this point for even considering getting another piercing but how long should i wait to pierce again after the swelling and infection goes away?

when i mean i got 4 piercings they wernt all in one ear i had two in one an two in the other. Today i went back to the hospital cause the infection spread to my face the side with the infected ear is swollen and tender They gave me another shot to stop the infection from spreading. Oh yeah I also had it pierced with a gun at a salon.

Answer 1

Well, for future reference, peroxide and alcohol are not good for piercings. You are supposed to use Dial (Proven or Satin is also fine) soap and water and sea salt soaks...nothing else. Peroxides, rubbing alcohol and 'ointments' often irritate the skin, slow healing and increase pain. All cleaning of piercings is to be done with them in place, so taking it out was also a mistake.

Also, you should rarely get more than 2 piercings at once. Often your body has issue coping with all the wounds which will increase the risk of things like this happening. Though everyone is different and some people do heal better, never take on more than you think your body can handle.

I'm also HIGHLY curious who did these piercings and with what equipment. It sounds like you went to Claire's or some shotty booth in the mall and got a butchered puncture from a moron with a stud gun...If that was the case, you need to use better quality jewelry. You should be using titanium, surgical grade stainless steel or 14k gold or better. All other metals are not recommended for new piercings due to quality and sensitivity issues

HOWEVER...to answer your question, the doctor should have given you a time frame as to when the antibiotics will kick in and the swelling goes down. Often, this is a period of 3-10 days, but can vary based on severity of the infection and problems present. But as far as repiercing, you should wait at least 3 months. With having an infection, your body will take longer to heal these wounds. Also, you need to give the area proper time for inflammation and scarring to do down. When you go to have them repierced, an experienced and qualified professional piercer should be able to best gauge the safety of repiercing the area. Keep in mind it will hurt more and can take longer to heal if you repierce the same exact spot. Also, upon piercing the same spot, you increase risk for forming keloids, so be careful.

Answer 2

I have done piercings for a while, and am curious as to if it was your ankh that was pierced, if it was, I'd wait at least 6 weeks after the swelling and infection go away. If it was the cartilage around the outer ear wall, then I would wait about 4 weeks.

Answer 3

well you made alot of mistakes. first off did you get it done with a gun or a needle? guns are more prone to infections and are not good for any kind of piercings. your second mistake yould then be cleanign your ears with peroxide and rubbing alcohol. you probably cleaned your ears too mcuh which irritated them causing them to swell... hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and neosporin are all horrible for piercings and u used all 3 . they all kill the good tissue. neosporin is moist. it would seal in anyinfections causign them to get worse.

what you should do right now since you piercings are still there is you need to do these sea salt soaks. they are a very impotant regime in the cleanign of any piercings that the professionals will tell you to do. please look at this website right away and so one for 15 minutes. soak the solution in paper towels or large cotton balls (warm distilled water and sea salt for 15 minutes twice a day)

http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Salt_Soaks
DO THIS RIGHT AWAY!!!!!

it helps with the swelling. and figths infections. right now you are at a dangerous position. you cartilae could colllapse and it coudl be permanent. but stop using the alcohol and peroxide and the ointments and do these sea salts soaks. it helps witht he pain and fights infections! doesnt metter if your earrign is in or not (i assume not0 so do these! trust me they help alot!


as for gettign it repierced. its normal to want the same piercing. you should go to a profeesional piercings studio/tattoo shop and be evaluated and get it done the RIGHT WAY with a hollow needle. its alot less painful and you will have alot less complication.

but go get evaluated with them they know what they are doign and are nice abotu things liek that. you may have some scar tissue in there. but they will be able to helop you out. even if you go there ow they will be able to help you out


but please do those sea salt soaks and stop using all of that crap! (neosporin, rubbing alcohol, and hydro peroxide) very bad for you!


they also have a large jewelry assormetns with different meetals. maybe bring in your own earrings and have then determine what it is then try a new metal. like gold, silver, titanium, or surgical steel..

Answer 4

I got a infection and there was a whole clump of dried blood on my ear stud. The whole cover was covered. I was like that for 3 years. But in yr case maybe u should wait 1 to 2 months

Answer 5

If I where you, I'd not get another piercing for probably another 6-8 weeks. It can take a while for the pain and swelling to go down and to heal. Hopefully, everything will go well for you. I've also heard that if you use a gold ear ring, then it should go better for you.

Answer 6

Sorry, but I think earrings might just be a bad thing for you right now. Your ears could anywhere from 6 months to a year or more to completely heal over.

So wait til they all have healed, then get ONE piercing.

In the mean time, attractive magnetic earrings are in abundance at places like Hot Topic, Claire's, and lots of other places.

Get well soon, hon. =)

Mel

Answer 7

Sounds like you may have been allergic to the jewelry. Was it any different from your others?
Also--NEVER use Rubbing Alcohol or Peroxide on piercings!! People who suggest that do not know what they are talking about! It dries out your piercing and makes it very hard to heal!
The only thing you should use on your ears are antibacterial soap/Provon and sea salt soaks. Please do this if you get another piercing. I would also suggest waiting until the other piercings heal before getting another one.

Answer 8

Wait until the hard bump is gone from the site where it was pierced. ONLY USE REAL GOLD AND SILVER JEWELRY FROM NOW ON!!!!! Seriously, and when it gets swollen, take salt and add a little water til it forms a thick paste and put it in from of and behind the ear so that it draws the infection out. It DOES hurt but it works amazingly.

Answer 9

that sounds to me like it was an allergic reaction or something, make sure that when u do it again, its done with real gold posts. and u should be able to get it done in ---i would probably wait a month or two. depending on when u aren't in any pain anymore and your ears don't feel tender

Answer 10

i have had mine for like 1 year and it still can hurt sometime take motrin and stuff just take like 4 and it will take the pain right aways also sometimes it jsut might be tht side of the ear try the other side