Cartilage piercing keeps getting infected?
This used to happen to me all the time. It didn't stop til I quit touching it. Try really hot water on a rag and put it on your ear over an over. It will hurt but it works really well for me, then clean it with unscented, NON antibacterial soap once a day with Q-Tips. Do not touch it unless you absolutely have to. Most infections in my piercings come when I irritate the piercing. Some people use salt water but for me that irritates it more. Depending on how old your piercing is you can also start putting some vitamin E on it. poke lil holes in the liquigel pills and put some on if it has already healed and has scar tissue. FYI i also got my cartilage pierced at claires and it's never recommended because it's very harsh on cartilage. It took years for mine to fully heal. I got it when I was 15 and i'm now 19 and it only recently completely healed.
Is my cartilage piercing infected ?
its irritated and possibly swollen. I did this with my cartilage piercing (omg, hurt so bad) keep cleaning it as usual, never touch it unless your hands are washed. and you should rotate it (i know it hurts, but you have to) honestly, I just took tylenol for my pain & put an ice pack on it (honestly, it helps)♥ It will get better as the days go by. where you hit it, its going to be very tender and irritated and possibly alittle swollen♥ also, with my cartilage I would get strands of my hair "wrapped" around the piercing (on the back) and that irritated my piercing after I got it done (I have long hair) So check in the mirror and see if you have any "hair" wrapped or tangled around your piercing--that will only further aggaravate it♥ if it were infected you would get 'dry goo' around your piercing and sometimes, if you squeeze the area around the piercing, white pus will come out. so beware of 'dry goo' around your piercing jewelry. that means its infected♥
What should I do with an infected cartilage piercing?
First its important to drain out the pus believe me! press on the piercing and compress it with clean hands untill all the pus comes out. For some back bumps filled with pus just pressing doesn't work.Soak your ear with a cotton dabbed with saline solution. After that massage the opening area of the piercing while compressing it with your fingers. Massage in circular motion.But with CLEAN hands! Continue compressing and messaging untill pus comes out fully. Then clean the ear again. Automatically the swelling will be reduced.The infection can be either due to some dirt stuck or because you are using the wrong jewellery.
How can you prevent getting bumps on your cartilage piercing?
Without seeing these bumps I could not give you an adequate answer. Maybe a good photo of these bumps would be sufficient to access what the issue is. More importantly seek the advice of a Naturopath.
How do you treat an infected cartilage piercing?
Do you know it's infected? What is your evidence for it? Chances are it is simply irritated and has healing difficulties rather than being infected.Infection in piercing is a truly dangerous thing but luckily it is very rare and ALWAYS has the same symptomsGreen plasma or pus around the site or dark black tissue (not just white or yellow- White and yellow pus is a normal thing)Extreme pain (like extreme not just itchiness or soreness)Discolouring of your skin from rashes to dark purple colour appearing around not just the site but expanding away from itIf you see these signs or symptoms then yes it is infected. Go to a hospital immediately as it is life threatening.If of course you don't see these signs (and as a professional of over 6 years I never ever have) you simply have irritation and you have either misdiagnosed infection or heard that diagnosis from a friend or a professional who doesn't appreciate body modification(this is so super common)So don't fear- go see your piercer and make sure you clean it using warm mild saline and nothing more! (Maybe change your earring too)
Do cartilage piercings get infected a lot / easily?
they do. most of my friends' have gotten infected.. but i did mine by myself with the earring, i made sure it was sterile and i cleaned the earring twice a day for weeks. mine never got infected. i also took the earring out about 3 days after i did it, and i cleaned the earring. don't be afraid to take it out and clean it, that's why i think mine didn't get infected. also, make sure your hands are clean when you touch it. try not to play with it or touch it except for when you are cleaning it, and try to keep hair from getting caught in the earring, because that can irritate it. <33333
How can I treat a cartilage piercing that has closed but is still infected?
It depends on the severity of the infection. If it is mild and localized, it may be best to visit a professional piercer (ASAP!) who can check with a sterile tool called an insertion taper to see if the channel is still open. If so, they can reinsert jewelry, because it is advised that quality jewelry of an appropriate size, style, and material be left in infected piercings to allow for drainage.Also, when the wound is open to the surface, it can be treated with topical products, such as an over-the-counter antibiotic gel or cream. Once the wound has sealed over, topical products will have no effect on an infection that is trapped inside.In the event that the piercing cannot be opened for jewelry insertion (without re-piercing), then you will need to consult a doctor if your body does not clear the infection on its own, or it worsens.Disclaimer: These suggestions are not to be considered a substitute for advice from a medical professional.
Should I take out my “infected” cartilage piercing? I was prescribed ciprofloxacin today but I’m unsure of whether to remove it or not.
I recommend leaving the jewellery in. This is because leaving the jewellery in keeps the hole open and lets any pus that is in the piercing drain out. This was advice I received from a doctor when one of my ear piercings became infected. The jewellery also keeps the hole from closing and trapping the pus and infection as the spot heals. So, leaving the jewellery in helps the infection clear up.While the infection is treated, keep cleaning the piercing twice a day. Don't use peroxide or rubbing alcohol, as they are damaging to healing tissue and delay healing. Instead, use mild, unscented soap like Ivory, or whatever wash your piercer gave you, if any.If you finish the course of antibiotics and still have symptoms of infection, be sure to go back to the doctor. If the infection appears to heal before you finish all your pills, be sure to finish taking the antibiotic to prevent the infection from coming back.When the you've finished the antibiotic and when the infection is cleared up, you can take the jewellery out if you no longer want the piercing. If you want to keep it, be sure you are using the high quality jewellery your piercer gave you until the piercing is healed in three to six months.I hope this is helpful to you. Good luck healing!
Just got two cartilage piercings. How should I keep them from getting infected? Any advice would be appreciated.
Rinse them really well with warm water in the shower when you’re done showering. Right before you get out. It’s a great way to get any suds, dirt, and gunk off of them.Do NOT touch them. For any reason. If you absolutely have to, make sure you wash your hands really well with soap and water.Do not rotate them, take them out, or move them before they’ve healed. Cartilage piercings can take 6months-year depending where they’re located and how big the gauge size is. Messing with them can lengthen the healing process, and that’s no fun.Use a sea salt soak every day, twice a day while they’re healing - for the first 6 weeks AT LEAST. Piercers will tell you to do this for the entire healing process, but I’ve personally never needed to. PERSONALLY. H2Ocean is a great sea salt spray and soak, I used it on my tongue religiously. Or if you go to a piercer they can offer stuff. I have a wound wash saline spray as well that I used on all my other piercings. If you have no other option, 1/4 tsp of non-iodized sea salt mixed with 1 cup of warm water would work just fine for a sea salt soak.Keep hair product away from your new piercing. Gels, dry shampoo, hairspray, oils, etc. All bad for your new piercing.If you find it gets caught a lot and you have long hair, keep your hair tied back. It will prevent it from getting caught as often.Swelling, bleeding, oozing of clear liquids - all normal. This is part of the healing process. Similr to scraping your knee, your body is trying to heal this wound. Abnormal bleeding, oozing of coloured liquids, getting hot to the touch - all not normal. Go see a piercer if you’re worried, but KEEP THE PIERCING IN. If you take the piercing out it can close and trap in an infection. Ibuprofen and a sea salt soak can generally help with the infection without a trip to a piercer or doctor.Enjoy your piercing!!
What do I do if I’ve slept on my new cartilage piercing, and it is very swollen?
Thanks for A2A.What do I do if I’ve slept on my new cartilage piercing, and it is very swollen?Hopefully, it is only swollen from the circumstances of your question. As long as there is no sign of actual infection, you should be OK just keeping it clean and cool. A cartilage piercing is prone to swelling, but no more likely to be infected than any other properly maintained piercing.The nature of your question suggests that this is a fairly new experience for you. Follow the directions you were given by the piercer for maintenance and check regularly for any discharge from the piercing. Clear fluid is no cause for worry, and it is likely the cause of the swelling—this same clear fluid is what the body uses to isolate burned skin (therefore found in blisters).Standard over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain killers should suffice. Just keep it clean and protected until everything has stabilized. Obviously, you’ve learned to avoid physical trauma in the future. Padding it from both sides while sleeping might make you a little more comfortable.