What to do about my infected cartilage piercing? I've tried everything.?

Question

A few months ago I (naively) got my upper ear cartilage pierced at Claire's with a gun. I'd wanted the piercing for years, but it was an impulse buy, I suppose. I know now I should have gotten it done with a needle. But at any rate, I wanted to change the stud to a hoop so I went to professional place and they changed it. Then about a month later my piercing got infected and developed a pus bubble or bump. Over time it has gotten a little bit larger.

I've tried everything: antiseptic, sea salt, crushed aspirin & spit, topical cream subscribed from my doctor, antibiotics for a week also subscribed by my doctor, and so on. I just finished the antibiotics, and have seen no change in my earring. I don't know what to do, and I just wish I could drain the pus somehow and let it heal, and know I cannot remove the earring since that would make things worse. Apparently it needs to be kept in, in order to drain the pus, etc.

Does anyone know any other solution?

I went to another doctor and got another prescription antibiotics and already see improvement in the infection. I am hoping this works, but I am prepared to remove the earring entirely if needed. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

One, you could have an allergy to the metal in your ear.
Two, you probably shattered the cartilage and it will never completely heal.
Three, switch back to the original earring until the infection heals and try not to be impatient about the healing it could take up to six months in this area.

Answer 2

ok, well I work at a piercing studio, and so I am quite familiar with this problem. The bubble is actually quite like a zit. It occurs when a foreign substance, i.e. makeup, face wash, shampoo, get inside your piercing and is not cleaned out well enough. These "bubbles" are actually quite common, and can happen with pretty much ANY body piercing. If you do acquire one of these bubbles, you need to pop it with a sterile needle, such as a sewing needle. Now, you don't want to butcher it, just puncture it a couple times. Next, take a q-tip, and roll of the bubble, pressing firmly but gently. You may only get a little bit of blood, maybe some pus, but you are flushing out whatever was inside. Then, you want to clean it with the piercing solution you were given at the time of piercing. Stay away from Rubbing Alcohol and Hydrogen Peroxide, these are very harsh, and actually kill the good bacteria needed to aid in healing. Repeat this process everyday until it disappears.
I will say also, that this only works if you start doing it right when you notice it is there. If you have had the bubble for a long period of time, it may have already hardened into scar tissue, and will not pop. If you do have scar tissue, massaging it often with some vitamin E oil will break down the scar tissue, eventually leaving you without the ugly bump.

Answer 3

I had something really similar happen with a piercing that I had had pierced for years— it just got infected. Same thing, big puss pocket, I tried putting neosporine and all sorts of crap on it and it wouldn't go away.

Finally I went to my piercer and she suggested the one and only thing that worked. Tea Tree Oil. It's an astringent and where neosporine was added oil and moisture to the site (the absolute wrong thing to do) The tea tree oil will dry it out while healing it.

Yes you could have an allergy, my piercings freak out when I leave acrylic jewelry in too long, but an allergy to stainless steel is uncommon. Try the oil, I swear, it totally works! You can pick it up at any health foods store in their health and beauty section. (Like Henry's, Whole Foods, or Trader Joes... that's what we have in San Diego)

Answer 4

My first piercing was with a gun and a stainless steel earring and I got a severe infection as you described. I changed it to a gold stud and cleaned it with peroxide every chance I got and then applied neosporin (triple antibiotic) on it and kept spinning the earring. It took months to heal.

I don't understand why your doctor did not drain the puss because it does help along the healing process.

Oh, you should stop spitting on your ear. It's not a good idea.

Answer 5

I also had the exact same piercing from Claires as well. Mine too got infected, and the only thing I could do was take it out. This was a long time ago, but I still have a little bump there.

Answer 6

The answer's not always the jewelry itself. I've had the very same reaction with 3 different cartilage piercings, and after chaning the jewelry to non-allergenic ones, they still refused to heal.

Eventually (after 3-4 years), I decided to just get rid of them completely.. and they've healed nicely. The bumps have gotten considerably smaller, and they don't have puss in them or hurt anymore.

I think if changing the jewelry doesn't help, just do what I did and get rid of it.

Answer 7

Have you tried first going to the piercer to find out EXACTLY what it is. If there's a bump, it could be a boil or abscess which is fairly easy to treat. I can't see the area to know for sure.

Depending on what they say, you should follow their advice and check back with them if the problems gets worse and even as it gets better so they know all is well.

Answer 8

Idiot.

You get your Cartilage pierced with a NEEDLE!

If it is infected get ear stuff of rubbing achohol! Simply put the rubbing achohol on the cotton ball. Then you dab it on your ear.

Ear Antiseptic works too. (from claires)

Answer 9

Sounds like you are having a reaction to the jewelry itself. Change the jewelry and see if it helps. Good luck.

Answer 10

what ever you do DO NOT REMOVE THE PIERCING WITHOUT REPLACING IT. infections that heal inside the skin enter the bloodstream and as this is in your head/face the blood flow will go into your brain and kill you. put in surgical steel, and put anteseptic on the area. see your doctor as soon as possible