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How To Treat Ear Cartilage Infection

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Causes Of Infections Later After The Pierced Ear Has Healed

How to manage an infected cartilage of helix post Ear Piercing? – Dr. Harihara Murthy
  • Not cleaning the earrings and posts daily
  • Touching earrings with dirty hands
  • Earring backs that are too tight against the earlobe. Reason: pressure from tight earrings reduces blood flow to the earlobe.
  • Not taking the earrings out at night
  • Anything that causes a scratch or tear in the ear channel. Examples are a heavy earring or a rough area on the post. Reason: any break in the skin can become infected.
  • Putting the post in at the wrong angle also can scratch the channel. Use a mirror until putting the earring in becomes routine.
  • Posts that have nickel in them can also cause an itchy, allergic reaction

Old Ear Piercing Infection

img source: staticflickr.com

How do old pierced ears become infected? Do not be surprised to get your completely healed or old ear piercing infected months, or years later. Some of the common ways through which they get infected include:

  • Touching with dirty hands or allowing your friends touch, hold the earrings or exchange them swapping,
  • Removing or occasionally changing the earrings,
  • Injury on earring hole causing trauma, surgery, etc.
  • Bacterial infections of the ear cartilage e.g. perichondritis,
  • Swimming in contaminated water pools, etc.

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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.

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Should I Go To The Doctor For An Infected Cartilage Piercing

As long as your infection is minor, you may be able to take care of it at home. If youve had a cartilage piercing and it seems infected, seek medical treatment. These types of infections are harder to treat and may require oral antibiotics. Significant infections of the cartilage can require hospitalization.

Causes Of Ear Piercing Infection

How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing

Developing into an infection, any bacteria left to fester is a detriment. You can introduce an infection simply by touching your piercing with dirty hands or instruments. Not allowing room for the wound to breathe and heal, an infection can develop in the event the earrings are on too tightly. Should there be too much handling of the piercing or the post of the earring is rough, a piercing can also get infected. If the person piercing your ears didnt use gloves, or if the posts themselves werent sterile an infection can also occur if unsterile instruments were used.

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Perichondritis: Not Just Simple Cellulitis

Background: Perichondritis is an infection of the connective tissue of the ear that covers the cartilaginous auricle or pinna, excluding the lobule . The term perichondritis is itself a misnomer, as the cartilage is almost always involved, with abscess formation and cavitation . Perichondritis can be a devastating disease, and if left improperly treated, the infection can worsen into a liquefying chondritis resulting in disfigurement and/or loss of the external ear . Unfortunately, misdiagnosis and mistreatment is common. In one small retrospective review, the overwhelming majority of patients presenting to a large general hospital were prescribed antibiotics without appropriate antimicrobial coverage, resulting in a significant number of patients developing chondral deformities or cauliflower ear .

Inexpensive And Wrong Jewelry

img source: r29static.com

Secondly, some people suffer from allergic reaction that often lead to more serious infection due to the use of wrong jewelry. Nickel for instance has been noted to cause allergic reaction to many people. Ensure you only use jewelry made from stainless steel, gold or titanium. Furthermore, avoid going for a post that is too tight or loose.

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Ear Cartilage Pain : Causes Treatment And Relief Tips

Written byMohan GarikiparithiPublished onApril 21, 2017

The outer edge of the ear is primarily made up of cartilage, and in some individuals, a sudden sensation of ear cartilage pain may occur. The initial presentation may feel like a pinch or a sharp pain in the outer ear cartilage with not much explanation as to why it occurred in the first place. The external ear consists of tissue, blood vessel, and cartilage, with its main responsibility being a sound receptor for which sound is funneled through the ear canal to the eardrum.

How To Treat Bruised Ear Cartilage

Determine If Ear Cartilage Is Infected | Ear Problems

How to treat bruised ear cartilage The following are some of the most common methods: Antibiotics: Commonly prescribed for bacterial infections. Anti-inflammatory medications: Aids in decreasing the swelling and reducing pain. Abscess draining: If an abscess is appreciated, it will be necessary to drain it by making an incision.

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Minor Infection in Newly Pierced Ear in Last 6 Weeks

  • What You Should Know About Infections in Newly Pierced Ears:
  • Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home.
  • With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Here is some care advice that should help.
  • Treating New Pierced Ear Infections :
  • Don’t take out the earring! Clean the infected area 3 times a day.
  • Wash hands with soap and water before touching the ear or earring.
  • Use cotton swab dipped in pierced ear solution .
  • Clean exposed earring . Also, clean the ear lobe.
  • Then turn the earring 3 times. Reason: To prevent the skin from sticking to the post.
  • Pierced Ear Solution:
  • Minor Infection in Ear Pierced More Than 6 Weeks Ago and Healed

  • What You Should Know About Infections in Well-Healed Pierced Ears:
  • Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home.
  • With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Here is some care advice that should help.
  • Clean Earring with Rubbing Alcohol:
  • Wash hands with soap and water.
  • Remove the earring from the ear.
  • Clean the earring and post with rubbing alcohol.
  • Do this 3 times per day.
  • Clean Earlobe with Rubbing Alcohol:
  • Then wash away any crusting from the earlobe with soap and water.
  • Use rubbing alcohol and some gauze to gently clean around the hole. Do this on both sides of the earlobe.
  • If the alcohol stings, use pierced ear solution instead.
  • Antibiotic Ointment:
  • Then put the earring back in.
  • What to Expect:
  • On The Outside Why Does My Ear Hurt

    An ear infection, such as otitis media or otitis externa, is the most prevalent cause of ear discomfort. Otitis media is a middle ear infection, while otitis externa is an ear canal infection. Sinus infection is a common cause of earaches and ear discomfort.

    The ear injury treatment is a question that has been asked many times. In this article, I will answer the question and also give you some tips on how to prevent ear injuries.

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    Are You Looking For A Safe Product To Clean Piercing Sites

    Finding the perfect product can be challenging, but you don’t have to dig deep. We’ve got a solution for you. If you’re looking for an effective and safe product to clean your piercing, Dr. Piercing Aftercare can help.

    At Dr. Piercing Aftercare, we’ve 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 body’s natural healing process while preventing infection. Contact us today,or check out our website if you want to learn more about our products.

    Always Wash Your Hands Before Touching Or Treating Your Piercing

    Ear Piercing Infection Causes, Symptoms, Pictures, Bump ...

    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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    Bad Or Poor Quality Earrings

    Thirdly, new ear piercing may get infected on condition that the first pair of earrings cause irritation that will result to itching. Continued itching perforates the skin for easy microorganisms. Consequently, According to Simple Remedies, microorganisms act as antigens, which triggers the bodys immune system, leading to the formation of pus after inflammation. An example of poor material is Nickel.

    Cheap earrings, too tight earrings can as well lead to inflammation. Heavy metal bars from earlobes can leave earring hole stretched.

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    Determine If Your Piercing Is Infected

    The first thing is to determine if your piercing is actually infected. “A piercing may be infected if you notice redness, swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth, crusting, and yellow drainage around the piercing site,” says Chang. “More severe infections can lead to spreading redness/swelling, fevers, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.”

    “My experience is that bellybutton piercings are the ones most at risk for infections. The second most common would be nose piercings,” says Zalka.

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    Saline Cleaning And Warm Water

    The best way to take care of a cartilage piercing is by properly cleaning the area. You can go about this process by using warm water once you have taken a shower using hair shampoo.

    Warm water is vital as it helps in relieving the pain caused by the piercing, while at the same time relieving any swelling that could be present.

    Additionally, cleaning will also play an important role in promoting healing, as it will discourage microbes from accumulating on the surface near the piercing.

    Using a saline solution to perform the cleaning will also guarantee better relief, especially when this piercing hurts. Saline solutions have also been known to help in accelerating the healing process of the piercing.

    However, it is imperative to note that there are cleaning solutions which can cause terrible results when used on new or piercings that are just starting to heal.

    When To Call The Doctor For An Ear Infection

    Cartilage Piercing Update: Infection & Solution feat. Demo

    Some symptoms of an inner ear infection can be the same as a stroke. If you have vomiting, headache, vision changes, fever, weakness in one side of your body, slurred speech or are unable to walk, seek medical care right away.

    Infections involving high fever, discharge or bleeding from the ear canal, headache, vomiting, dizziness, loss of hearing, or severe pain should be seen by a doctor. A doctor should see most people with an inner ear infection.

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    What Causes Cauliflower Ear

    The ear is vulnerable to blunt trauma. When the ear is struck and a blood clot develops under the skin, or the skin is sheared from the cartilage, the connection of the skin to the cartilage is disrupted, causing cauliflower ear.

    The cartilage of the ear has no other blood supply except that supplied by the overlying skin. When the skin is pulled from the cartilage, and/or separated from the cartilage by blood , the cartilage is deprived of important nutrients. Ultimately, the cartilage dies and the risk of infection is increased.

    Untreated, the ear cartilage contracts on itself forming a shriveled up outer ear, known as the cauliflower ear deformity. Once cartilage death and scarring occurs, the resulting deformity is generally permanent. The ear may also appear pale, due to loss of blood supply. In some cases, cosmetic procedures may improve the appearance of the ear.

    Cartilage damage may also result from piercing the upper ear in the cartilage. Piercing can lead to a type of ear cartilage infection called auricular perichondritis, which can result in cauliflower ear. An even more rare cause of cauliflower ear is from the inflammation of cartilage in relapsing polychondritis.

    What Does Perichondritis Look Like

    A painful, swollen, red ear is the most common symptom. At first, the infection will look like a skin infection, but it quickly worsens and involves the perichondrium. The redness usually surrounds an area of injury, such as a cut or scrape. There may also be fever.

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    How To Spot Infected Cartilage Piercing

    How do you know if your cartilage piercing is infected? Identifying the signs of an infected cartilage piercing is easy. Here are some infected cartilage piercing symptoms:

    • Redness around the piercing that could last up to several days
    • Change in skin color around the pierced area after redness leaves
    • Extended bleeding of pierced area
    • Itching or burning in the pierced area and surrounding cartilage
    • Tenderness and pain in cartilage
    • Yellowish or greenish discharge from the pierced area
    • Scabbing and formation of crust
    • Swelling around the piercing
    • In some cases, a person may experience fever

    Mild Frostnip Of The Ears

    Ear surgery

    Frostnip is damage of the outermost layers of the skin caused by exposure to the cold . It is most commonly found in people doing leisurely activities like camping, hunting, or snow sports.

    Rarity: Rare

    Top Symptoms: ear numbness, outer ear pain, ear redness, turning blue or purple from coldness, cold ears

    Symptoms that always occur with mild frostnip of the ears: cold ears

    Urgency: In-person visit

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    Ear Cartilage Pain Relief And Prevention Tips

    While not all causes of auricular chondritis can be preventedas in cases of unavoidable trauma or suffering from cartilage centric diseasethere are some preemptive things one can do to reduce chances of occurrence:

    • Avoid placing objects in the ear, this includes cotton balls, your fingers, and sharp objects. If ear wax is an issue, it may be beneficial to get it professionally removed.
    • Do not put any unnecessary mechanical pressure on the ears. This may occur by pressing phones, headbands, or headphones directly into the ear.
    • Wear ear protection during concerts while cutting the lawn or utilizing loud heavy machinery.
    • If you own a bike or motorcycle, make sure the helmet is not too tight fitting around the ears.
    • When playing sports, wear the appropriate protective gear to protect the ears from accidental trauma.

    Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University . He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine , and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.

    Impact On Actual Healing Of The Wound

    As we saw above, the healing process for any wound revolves around the skin stimulating the cell divisions to cover up the exposed area around the new injury or wound. This begins with the pierced or punctured area being covered with white blood cells to first setup a protective defense against bacteria and induce a congenial environment for the piercing wound to heal. All this activity has one life driving phenomenon working at its epicentre the optimal circulation of blood.

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    Clean Your Jewelry And Ear

    Cleaning your earrings regularly is a must, as the posts can accumulate oil, leftover hair products, and overall gunk. A good rule of thumb is to wipe down the jewelry every time you change accessories . As for ear-adjacent items , make sure youre giving them a proper wash, too. They can harbor bacteria otherwise, notes Alvarado. Check out our at-home cleaning guides for headphones, masks, and headbands and hair ties.

    Poor Personal Hygiene And Aftercare

    How to recognise, manage and treat an infected ear piercing | Doctor O’Donovan explains…

    A third cause of infected pierced ear cartilage is poor personal hygiene during the healing process or even years after. Ensure you follow the aftercare routine and never touch your piercing with dirty hands.

    Furthermore, tie your hair nicely to ensure it does not touch your piercing for the first few days after you have been pierced and do not let other people touch your piercing either. Your pillow and bed sheets should also be changed and sterilized each day.

    Other cause of cartilage ear piercing infection include

    • Physical injuries especially when wearing a jewelry, partying, sporting etc.
    • Over cleaning of the piercing
    • Avoid using a piercing gun as it distorts your cartilage and increase changes of you getting a bump behind your year.

    Do not be surprised if you have infected cartilage piercing an after year or months of it completely healing. It happens especially if you are fond of touching or fondling the piercing.

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