my ear lobe is infected for sure because of the puss that sometimes comes of it, but instead of using rubbing-alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide, can i use a little bit of hand sanitizer to try healing it? I thought it might make sense because it also has alcohol in it that can heal it. is this appropriate or effective in anyway?
2006-12-13 11:00:24 · 6 answers · asked by VJ 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
Just use your good common sense. Keep it clean with warm soapy water once or twice a day. If you use peroxide on it, don't do it too many times in a day so that it wont eat away the healthy cells that are present and growing back. Peroxide is an antibiotic while alcohol is an astringent(sterilizer). I have two suggestions. 1. After cleaning it, douse it with whichever you choose to use (alcohol or peroxide). Dip the post of the earing into whichever you are using and put it in the hole. Do that two or three times to really get it in there. Then, spread a little neosporin on the outside of the hole. Then dip the post in the neosporin and put it in the hole. Put neosporin on it as much as you can during the day.
2. It sounds crazy, but if you put a dab of clearasil on the back of the hole opening at night it will help pull the infection out and the medicine through.
One other thing, if you are having a hard time getting the infection out, try a pultice. A pultice(spelling?) is the skin on the inside of an egg shell on the fat end where the bubble is. Pull some of it off and put it on a bandaid and place it over the back opening of the hole. As this dries through the night it will pull the infection out. I know it sounds nuts too, but these really work.
2006-12-13 11:24:03 · answer #1 · answered by Yomi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly the fact of the matter that your ear is infected from a piercing means either where you had your ears pierced at they used a dirty needle or you did not take the proper after care procedures explained to you when you got your ears pierced. Either or the cure is the same.
You need to irrigate the hole of the piercing 3 times a day with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a very good anti bacterial and it works better than alcohol. Hand sanitizer all it does is cures germs on the spot. But the fact of irrigating which means flushing the hole with hydrogen peroxide for 2-3 mins three times a day for five days will be a lot more effective and will produce better results than regular old hand sanitizer.
The best way to irrigate your ear with such a small hole is just pouring the hydrogen peroxide over the ear clearing up any debris or foreign objects that may cause the infection.
Do this and you will be fine! Oh i forgot to tell you it will be a little painful but just know as your site begins to heal the pain will go away.
HOSPITAL CORPSMAN,
UNITED STATES NAVY!
2006-12-13 11:09:42 · answer #2 · answered by stingexy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would not reccomend using hand sanitizer for an infection. Although hand sanitizers claim they kill 99.9% of bacteria, they only strip away the outer layer of oil on the skin, which prevents bacteria already present in the body from coming to the surface of the skin. But, research shows, that hand sanitizers do not significantly reduce the amount of bacteria on the skin, and in some cases it may actually increase the amount of bacteria.
From personal experience with infected an infected ear piercing, I would reccomend using hydrogen peroxide. And, if you have the guts, you might try taking the piercing out for maybe 10 seconds (but no more than 15) and clean the wound with a Q-tip and some peroxide. It worked for me.
2006-12-13 11:31:11 · answer #3 · answered by Jessica T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No on the hand sanitiser.... Its going to dry it out and make it worse. I know that sounds weird but its true. Thats why they tell you not to put alchohaul on it when you first get it pierced. They give you a salution... Keep it clean but not with hand sanitizer. And try not to touch it.
2006-12-13 20:29:34 · answer #4 · answered by Crystal D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not think that this is an appropriate solution. Yet.... you should steer clear of peroxide since it kills healthy cells as well as infection. I feel like your best bet would be an antibiotic ointment or sea salt..... Table salt and water works well too.
2006-12-13 11:09:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it may be due to it having the alcohol in it, but you'd be better off using the hydrogen peroxide...it's a more aggressive chemical than hand sanitizer.
2006-12-13 11:09:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because it won't have the same ingredients in it and it will hurt like the dickens. you're better off using peroxide. Don't use rubbing alcohol because that will sting too.
2006-12-13 11:15:33 · answer #7 · answered by mama3 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's going to sting like crazy if you do!
2006-12-13 11:08:34 · answer #8 · answered by Candy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋