Help? I think I might have infected my tragus piercing.?

Question

I recently just had it pierced on Wednesday. Now it's Saturday. There is some obvious swelling compared to my other tragus (unpierced). And there is a slight painful discomfortment when I'm cleaning it. I know that when it's first pierced, it's SUPPOSED to hurt, but I get paranoid with these type of situations. I've been doing my sea salt soaks daily and following up with the H2Ocean spray the place gave me. I know for a fact that it wasn't pierced wrong, if anything, it was some dumb thing I did. Any of you who have had your's piercing before, or any piercing (besides lobe) for that matter, did this happen too? Any help is greatly appreciated. :)

Answer 1

Yeah, I get really paranoid about all my piercings too. It sounds like it's healing normally. My tragus stayed swollen for a while, and was sore when I cleaned it too. took a long time before i was brave enough to try to move the jewlery. Make sure you aren't sleeping on it, or touching it. And try not to put the phone on that ear.

I'm a nurse, and i know it took a really long time before i could put a stethescope in my ear at all. It was swollen, and sort of stiff. Now it's fine, but I think it took 3 or 4 months.

Answer 2

well it sounds normal ! youve only had it pierced for 3 days. it is normal for it to be swollen and dont be surprised if its still painful 3 months intot he piercing. its good that you are following your cleaning so i doubt it is infected. swelling is normal and the pain is normal

a sign of an infection is excessive swelling, excessive paing and redness, yellow or green discharge. thats when you know you haev an infection btu im sure you are fine! it will be sore for a looong time! i have 3 cartilage piercings. i got 2 done 3 months ago on eah side of my ears ont eh lobes basically across formt eh tragus and they are still sore. so dont be surprised if they hurt for 6 months or more.. the cartilage is very thick in the at area! just get used to it. dont take it out!

also i know peopel will probably come on here and say "use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide" or "put soem neosporin on it" NEVER USE HTESE PRODUCTS! yes they are good for wounds liek scarpes but are very harmful for piercings. they will dry out irritate, cause more scarring cause that kill the good tissue and bacterias. also neosporing will stop the discharge from exiting (which is normalm this is why your jewelry will be crusty is cause of the discharge) ointmenst will trap the discharge casuign a moist environment casuign an infection... please keep these away

and if you are a girl. (i forget what your avatars name is, wear your hair up for a whule so you dont get any chemicals or anythign near your new piercing.

but im sure it is fine. if the pain or wellign gets worse, or yellow or green dishcarge comes then go back tot he piercer and see what they can do (or call them) but are you usign the sdea salt soaks? or is it just h20 ocean? if you do regulare sea salt soaks (distilled water adn noniodized sea salt) u are supposed to do these warmed. this helps with the pain and both of the methods you are using are aiding in the healign process

good luck. the warm water also draws out the lymph (discharge)

Answer 3

call your piercer.... they will know what you should do. they should be pros....