Cartilage Piercing Infections?

Question

I got my cartilage pierced over a month ago and have been cleaning it two-three times on a daily basis with this antiseptic.

Everything's been fine until two days ago. I got a cartilage earring from Ardene's and when I put it in, everything seemed fine. However, every eight or so hours earwax or something that looks like earwax forms around it.

Is that going to lead to or is it an infection? I cleaned the earring before putting it in and for the past couple of days I've been putting the antiseptic but I'm still a bit paranoid. I just took out the earring and put my old one in and there was no puss or anything like that.

But what's up with the earwax/earwax type thing?
And when will I be able to put that earring back in?

Answer 1

It sounds like pus, don't take your jewelry out or you may trap it(because it heals over and traps the infection), which can lead to other problems.

Switch out that jewelry for the one you had in originally. The new one is likely aggravating it.

Just clean it with saline solution and maybe apply some polysporin. If it doesn't clear up within a few days go see a doctor and he'll give you something.

When you buy jewelry, buy it from a store that sells stainless surgical steel jewelry. Do not buy sterling silver, it's a terrible idea.

So again, don't take out the jewelry, replace it, keep it clean, it'll clear up.

Answer 2

That sounds like the normal secretions that come from a piercing. Is it like the stuff that came out when it was first pierced? Sometimes changing jewellery can cause trauma to the hole, and it starts producing that gunky stuff as it re-heals and cleans itself out. I find that cartilage especially does this, it seems that cartilage piercings are really easily aggravated.

Signs of infection or allergy are redness and swelling. If you keep cleaning it well and there's no redness, then you don't have to worry and can just let the piercing heal itself over the new jewellery.

Answer 3

You may be allergic to the new earring.