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.
Cartilage Piercing Infection Help?
Your piercer is obviously an idiot. Sea salt naturally draws out infections and bacteria. Polysporin even says right on the tube "not to be used on puncture wounds" which is exactly what a piercing is. The ointment can get into your piercing and will be difficult to rinse out (because it's not water based), it can actual smother and kill the cells. Polysporin is not even going to do anything for an infected piercing, it's intended use it for scrapes and cuts and it's supposed to act as a barrier against bacteria, NOT a cure for infections. If anything, it will make your infection worse. Please see a new piercer, hopefully someone who knows what the hell they're talking about. If the infection is very bad, i.e you're experiencing nausea or fever, then you need to see your doctor for antibiotics. Otherwise just do sea salt soaks. 1/4 tsp of non-iodized sea salt with 1 cup of very warm water. Soak your piercing 10 minutes twice daily. It should get better in no time. And please do not remove the jewelry until you're sure the infection is completely gone, otherwise the infection will get trapped inside when the piercing closes and it can spread. /edit In addition, you should never twist or turn the jewelry. That just shoves more bacteria, crusties, blood, and other bodily fluids into the hole.
Helix (cartilage) piercing infection HELP!?
I got my helix pierced back in February, with a needle, and I never had any serious issues during the majority of the healing time (other than the dreaded "bump" which went away after a week of sea-salt soaks). In June, I felt my piercing was healed enough for me to change the earring, so I did so. Since then, my ear was nothing but problems. The "bump" came back on both sides of my ear right on the earring hole, my ear was constantly red, and occasionally leaked yellow discharge. After giving up on the sea salt soaks, I went to my doctor in mid-July and I was prescribed Bactroban to dip the post of the earring in 3x a day for 3 weeks. Unfortunately, this didn't help. I went back to my sea salt soaks with no success on the healing efforts. Just last night I noticed 3 small lumps on the rim of my ear, not painful but almost similar to warts. I went directly to the doctor today and I was told that I must take the piercing out right away, as it was definitely infected and those lumps were the beginnings cellulitis (which could lead to keloids without treatment). The doctor prescribed me cephalexin 3x a day for 7 days. I addressed my concern about removing the piercing - the possibility of "trapping the infection" - she informed me that the only way to treat a foreign body is to remove the foreign body. She also mentioned something about possible scarring even after treatment? - My questions are: - should I get another opinion as to if the earring should be taken out (it is out right now, but likely could be put back in if not held off too long) ? - should this treatment clear up all the signs of infection on my ear? - how likely is scarring after treatment?
Cartilage piercing infection help please!?
well first of all you need to put the earring back in if the hole closes up it will only trap the infection inside your ear leaving it no way to get out and that will make it worse. second you need to do sea salt soaks this will draw out the infection in a week or so and it should clear right up to do a sea salt soak put 1/8tsp. sea salt for ever 8oz. of very warm water (as warm as you can stand) and stir to dissolve the salt then let it soak for 5 minutes or so and do that twice a day in the morning and at night. also i would avoid putting any alcohol based disinfectant on it, it will severely dry it out and that's not good for it, i recommend neutrogena anti-bacterial Fragrance free bar soap if you want to clean it it works wonderful i use it on all my piercings
Ear piercing infection! plz help!?
Taking the ear ring out may be the best thing you could have done.Have you been wearing cheaper earrings? Some people are allergic to certain metals, you may need to buy a good pair of Gold (14kt.) ones. When my ears get sore(very seldom) I use Campho-Phenique it's a liquid comes in a bottle, and you can get it at the drug stores without a prescription. To have a ear pierced and be having problems with it a year later says something is wrong, but, see if since you took the ear ring out if it doesn't start to improve, keep it clean, don't lay on it when you sleep, and maybe even try a little ice......but, by all means if it gets worse go see about it. Hope it heals nicely by itself.
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)
Ear Piercing Infection that Won't Go Away! HELP!!!?
I had issues similar to this when I got my ears done. My advice is to clean your ears with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball a couple times a day, until it clears up. While you have the infection, avoid putting in your earrings too. White gold should be fine and not cause any reaction, sterling silver shouldn't either... It could also be a cyst if you have a lump where the hole is, which is what I think I had, in that case, the cyst would either have to be removed or wait until it goes away.
My cartilage piercing is infected, any home remedies to help?
The image looks like it is infected deep in the cartilage. I would have it checked by a doctor. You may need some culture and sensitivity test done from a drop of pus. If it comes back positive for a bug, you may need 10 to 14 days of antibiotics. Take a probiotic along with it to protect your bowel flora. At least during the time of treatment you need to keep the ear rings out. If you need piercing in future, have it done in a sterile manner. Use bacitracin or polysporine ointment for a week or so until you know the channel is healed and infection free.
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!