Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How To Cure An Infected Ear Piercing

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Don’t Remove Your Jewelry

How To:Treat An Infected Ear Piercing

Although your natural inclination may be to immediately remove the jewelry from your infected piercing, don’t pull the trigger so fast.

“It’s always best to see a physician if your piercing is infected, and they will tell you whether to leave it in or remove it, depending on how infected it is,” Dr. Jaliman explains. “If it’s an allergic reaction to the material, you should definitely have it removed, but if it’s just slightly infected, you should leave the jewelry in and treat it so that the piercing doesn’t close with bacteria inside. Your doctor can best determine what should be done.”

If you’ve decided that your infection is minor and you’d like to treat it at home, leave the jewelry in the piercing while treating it.

Searching For A Piercing Cleaning Solution

If youre looking for a safe product to clean your piercings, Dr. Piercing Aftercare can help.

At Dr. Piercing Aftercare, weve developed convenient medicated swabs that you can use to clean your piercings and keep infection away. We are proud of our products. They are made and tested in a cGMP compliant and FDA-registered facility in America.

We use advanced technology on our swabs for easy application. Each pack contains thirty-six medicated swabs that are proven and tested to promote your bodys natural healing process while preventing infection. Contact us today, or you can check out our website to learn more about our products.

  • Dr. Piercing Aftercare is distributed exclusively by:Broadway Products LLC

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Always Wash Your Hands Before Touching Or Treating Your Piercing

Minor infections can often be treated at home, but it’s important to make sure you are doing so with clean hands. “Make sure you do not have a fever or swollen lymph nodes, which suggests you should seek a doctor for further evaluation,” notes Chang. “Avoid excessively touching or manipulating the infected site as this can worsen the irritation and inflammation. If touching the area, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly beforehand.” Soap and water, please!

If you don’t think the jewelry is the cause, then the source of the infection is probably bacterial. The way to fix that is to kill and/or clear the bacteria. Try cleaning the area twice a day and doing sea salt soaks twice a day basically treating it like a brand new piercing. The heat and the salt are both claimed to help draw out pus and other fluids that may contain bacteria. Hopefully, following that regimen for a few days will clear up an infection in its early stages. You can do this with a q-tip and sterile saline or saltwater . Remember to clean both the front and back of the earlobe.

“Avoid alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to the affected area, as these can further irritate the skin and slow down the healing process,” says Chang.

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What Is An Infected Piercing

When you go to a piercer or when you pierce your ear at home there are chances that for some reason you may catch the infection.

If the piercing is pierced with untidy hands, there are high chances that you may catch an infection. After the process is completed if there is swelling or any color of discharge from your ear, it shows your ear is infected. There may be itching or maybe some kind of burning sensation too, which indicates your piercing is infected.

A new piercing is an open wound so there are chances that it would take a few weeks to heal and to get comfortable with your skin. Till then, you should be very careful with the piercing.

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Do Only New Ear Piercings Get Infected

How To Treat Infected Ear Piercing  How Nigeria News

If youve had pierced ears for eons, youre not totally off the hook, but you are at a lowered risk of just randomly developing an infection. Infections are most likely to occur during the first week following the piercing, but can arise later on, Dr. Kaplan says.

Infection symptoms wont pop up the moment your piercing is exposed to bacteria. Surprisingly, piercing infections do not typically happen until three to seven days after the initial piercing, sometimes more, says Leila Mankarious, MD, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. Bacteria need time to proliferate.

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When Should One Get A Piercing

Well, theres no particular answer to this question because these days we see kids and pregnant women getting pierced so it is completely a safe experience, and it completely depends on you at what time you want to get a piercing.

A lot of people get pierced for different reasons and at different times. But that is not something which is a concern. The concern is, how safe it is for you to get a piercing.

So here we bring you all the information you need to know in regards to ear piercing as well as infected ear piercing and its treatment.

Can You Prevent An Ear Infection

Are all piercings bound to end up getting infected? The answer is no. Look at the causes of infection. As you can see, they’re all preventable. Here are some to help prevent infection.

  • Find an experienced professional piercer.
  • Check to see if the jewelry is new. It should come in a package.
  • Don’t make a habit of touching your piercing.
  • Clean your ears twice a day using saline solution.
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    How Common Are Infected Ear Piercings

    Millions of people get their ears pierced, and most of them have no serious complications. Mild irritation and infections are common, however, for new piercings. In most cases, infections arent serious and clear up quickly.

    The earlobes are fleshy and fatty, with strong blood flow. They heal quickly, reducing the risk of an earlobe infection. The upper ear is cartilage, a thick, stiff tissue with less blood flow.

    Piercings in the upper ear are more likely to become infected, and infections in the upper ear are sometimes serious.

    Treating An Infected Ear Piercing

    How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing

    As mentioned earlier, some ear-piercing infections require that you see the doctor. However, for mild infections, you can treat the infection wound yourself with ease. Indeed, several DIY treatments are now available that you can explore, such as dandruff shampoo.

    The zinc pyrithione in dandruff shampoo is an excellent antibacterial that can aid the healing process of infected ear piercings. It can also prevent infection.

    However, the primary way to treat infected ear piercings involves using saline water to gently clean the infected area and an over-the-counter antibiotic cream to kill the bacteria. Proceed as follows

  • Wash your hands with soap and water as you dont want to infect the wound further. Its best to use running water.
  • Prepare a saltwater solution. Youll need one cup of water and about ½ teaspoon of salt. Stir the solution until all the salt dissolves.
  • With the earring in place, soak a cotton ball in the solution and place it on the affected area, and let it rest for a few seconds.
  • Remove the cotton ball and dry the area using a clean gauze or tissue. You can also use another cotton ball.
  • Now you can apply the over-the-counter antibiotic cream. Most experts recommend Neosporin or Bacitracin. However, other antibiotic creams work just as well. Make sure to follow the directions on the product label.
  • It also helps to change your pillowcase with a clean one at least every two days. Avoid alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, as these can potentially irritate the area.

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    How Long Does A Piercing Take To Heal

    1. The amount of time it takes for a piercing to heal varies depending on the type of piercing.

    a) Ear lobe piercings typically take 6 to 10 weeks to heal, and they may be the simplest to cure all the piercings. Other piercings, such as the industrial, may take longer to heal.

    b) Healing time for nose piercing might range from 3 to 6 months.

    c) Navel and ear cartilage piercings such as the daith, helix, tragus, and industrial piercings can take anywhere from 6 months to a year to heal. Generally, the upper ear piercings are prone to infection compared to the earlobe piercing, and it also takes a longer time to heal.

    d) Lip and tongue piercings could take 6 to 8 weeks.

    2. Another element that may influence the healing process of the newly pierced ear is the piercing procedure. If the piercing is performed with a piercing gun, the healing process may be longer than if the piercing is done with a needle. Needle piercings heal more quickly.

    How Are Infected Ear Piercings Treated

    Your healthcare provider may recommend a variety of treatments to help an infected ear piercing heal. These may include:

    • Applying a warm compress to the infected earlobe or cartilage.
    • Rinsing the infected earlobe with sterile saline.
    • Using antibiotic ointment on the affected area.
    • Taking oral antibiotics for more severe infections.

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    S In Treating Minor Ear Piercing Infection

    Step 1: If you touch or clean your piercing, make sure you wash your hands.

    Step 2: Clean your piercing with a saline rinse thrice a day. If you can’t find a good product online, you can create your own by combining ¼ teaspoon of salt and mixing it with 8 ounces of distilled water.

    Step 3: Don’t attempt to use antibiotic ointments, hydrogen peroxide, and even alcohol, as this will only irritate your skin and worsen the infection.

    Step 4: Never attempt to remove your jewelry. The hole could close up and trap the bacteria.

    Step 5: When cleaning your piercing, make sure you clean both sides of your ears and then pat it dry with a clean paper towel.

    When the infection has cleared up, don’t stop cleaning the piercing. Continue to do it but taper it down to twice a day up to 8 weeks. Routine care is also essential to keep infection at bay.

    What Does An Infected Ear Piercing Look Like

    How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing without it Closing

    A cartilage piercing is a hole located in the cartilage of your middle and upper ear. If the site turns tender, itchy, sore, swollen, warm, or red, you’ll know it’s infected. In addition, there are times when the site produces a greenish, yellowish, or whitish discharge.

    Keep in mind that a new piercing takes weeks to heal completely. Bacteria can still travel to your open wound during the healing period and cause an infection.

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    When To See The Doctor

    Minor ear piercing infections can progress to perichondritis, abscess formation, and necrosis with or without systemic symptoms. Perichondritis is inflammation of the perichondrium, a layer of tissue surrounding the cartilage of the external part of the ear known as the pinna. Meanwhile, necrosis is a form of irreversible cell injury that results in the death of cells in the affected area.

    For the above reasons, you should see the doctor promptly if home remedies down work. Most experts recommend seeing the doctor if the symptoms dont subside after a week of home treatment.

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    What Is An Infected Ear Piercing

    An ear piercing is a hole through your earlobe or the cartilage in your middle or upper ear. An infected ear piercing may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes the piercing oozes blood or white, yellow or greenish pus.

    A new piercing is an open wound that can take several weeks to fully heal. During that time, any bacteria that enter the wound can lead to infection.

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    How To Treat An Infected Ear Piercing Cause Symptoms And Treatment

    Ear Piercings have gained immense popularity with time and also as the fashion industry evolved. Nowadays, many youths consider doing ear piercing in hope that it might improve and bring out their personality and add more colours and fun aspects to their personality.

    Ear piercing is quite a hectic and delicate task to do, and if done in the wrong way, consequences are needed to face by an individual who gets the ear piercing done in the first place.

    You might have heard of all the cool stuff about ear piercings and how stylish they might look, but you also need to pay attention to the other side of the coin and the details of the post effects of the ear piercings.

    When To See An Ent Specialist For An Ear Infection

    How to Treat Ear Piercing Infections

    Make an appointment with an ENT specialist. As mentioned, a minor infection of an ear piercing can be treated at home successfully. However, if the following symptoms below develop, be sure to get medical assistance. A fever develops. Beyond the piercing site, the infection, or redness and inflammation, spreads. If within 2 days the infection doesnt improve with home treatment. The earring is immovable. The earring clasp is embedded in your skin.Remember, with proper care and cleaning, you can reduce the risk of ear piercing infections. In the event you experience an extreme case of infection, for assistance.

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    Caring For Pierced Ears

    How to care for pierced ears

    Although ear piercings are more common and can be less risky than other body piercings, they can still cause complications if not handled safely. For anyone thinking about getting their ears pierced, dermatologists urge people to follow these steps to avoid infection.

    Although ear piercings are more common and can be less risky than other body piercings, they can still cause complications if not handled safely. For anyone thinking about getting their ears pierced, dermatologists urge people to follow these steps to avoid infection:

  • Always wash your hands before touching newly pierced ears.

  • Leave the earrings in your ears for six weeks or more, even at night. Removing the starter earrings too early may cause the piercings to close.

  • Regularly wash your ears with soap and water. Carefully do this at least once a day to avoid infection.

  • Twist the earrings a few times daily. This will help keep the pierced holes open.

  • Put rubbing alcohol on your ears. Using a cotton ball or pad dipped in rubbing alcohol, gently clean the skin around the piercings twice a day to keep away germs and prevent scabbing. You may also apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly around the opening.

  • After piercing your ears, keep an eye on them to make sure they dont get sore, red or puffy and that the holes dont ooze yellowish liquid. If any of this occurs and doesnt go away quickly, see a board-certified dermatologist, as you may have an infection.

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    Clean Your Ears With Saline Solution

    You can purchase this simple antiseptic solution from piercing parlors and online stores. However, if you are not able to buy it, you can easily make it at home. All you need to do is combine ¼ tsp of non-iodized sea salt with 8 oz. of distilled water and stir until all the salt dissolves. To clean your piercing, dip a clean cotton swab in the solution and press it against the infection on your ear.

    Repeat this step for 15 to 20 minutes, three times a day.

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    Is Infected Ear Piercings Common

    Unfortunately, ear infections are common. Every year, millions of people have their ears pierced, but the majority of them do not develop complicationshowever, some experience mild irritation and piercing infections. But, not all piercings heal the same.

    Earlobes have a good blood flow, which means they heal quickly, reducing the risk of disease. On the other hand, the ear cartilage is thicker and harder with lesser blood flow. It goes without saying that cartilage piercings are more prone to infection.

    Prevention Of Baby Ear Piercing Infection

    How to drain infected ear piercing

    As our wise ancestors have said, prevention is always better than cure and this is perhaps the best thing to do when it comes to your precious little ones well being. Parents that follow preventive practices experience a 100% hassle free baby ear piercing experience.

    Do you wish to keep a baby ear piercing infection at bay? Heres what you need to do

    • Always approach well known, certified, child-friendly piercing facilities that use 100% safe and guaranteed sterile procedures.
    • Seek recommendation for appropriate facilities from your pediatrician.
    • It is always best to wait for 3 months before getting your babys ears pierced.
    • Always choose certified hypoallergenic baby-friendly metals like Silver, 18K -24K Gold and Titanium.
    • Choose a compatible shape and size of the earring so that your babys ear does not get weighed down and he / she does not fiddle with the new ear piece.
    • Do not remove the earrings before at least 6 weeks or as recommended by the piercing expert.
    • Following the aftercare procedures like rotating the earring at least twice a day, cleaning the area with saline water, application of recommended ointments etc. meticulously, is very important.

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    Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

    Culture and gram stain of purulent drainage of skin infections can help aid in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, but this is not a requirement . Alternatively, it is not recommended to perform a swab, biopsy, or blood culture from a cellulitis infection . For abscesses, incision and drainage is the recommended treatment . For infections involved with penetrating trauma, as could be the case with a recent body piercing, treatment with antimicrobials directed against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species are recommended . Recommended treatment duration is five days, but therapy extension is advisable if not improved during that treatment period .

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