Infected Lip Piercing On The Outside

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.

Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:

How

Lip piercings may be more prone to infection — especially during the initial healing stage — due to regular contact with saliva, food, makeup, and other bacteria.

Figure 1 From Oral Piercings: Immediate And Late Complications.

You may be more likely to develop an infection if you have a double piercing, like a vertical labret or dahlia. Infection may or may not affect both holes.

Keep reading to learn how to identify infection, what you can do to ease your symptoms, and how to prevent further complications.

If the piercing is new, irritation is normal. Your skin’s still adjusting to the new hole in your lip or surrounding area.

Ways To Tell If A Piercing Is Infected

Mild infections can typically be treated at home. However, you should see your piercer right away if it’s your first time dealing with an infected piercing or if your symptoms are more severe.

Not only can it cause further irritation, removing the jewelry may allow a newer piercing to close. This can trap bacteria and allow the infection to spread beyond the piercing site.

If you’re experiencing signs of infection, regular cleansing is the best way to flush out bacteria and prevent further irritation. You should clean two to three times a day with a saline or salt solution.

Spider Bite Piercing Dublin

Using a pre-made saline solution is typically the most convenient way to clean your piercing. You can buy these over the counter (OTC) at your piercer’s shop or local pharmacy.

You can use mouthwash to rinse after you a meal and as part of your normal oral care routine. Follow all package directions and avoid swallowing.

If you’d like, you can make these modifications to your homemade compress. Just make sure that the cloth can be sealed or folded so that nothing falls out.

How

A Complete Guide On How To Stop Lip Piercing Embedding

Pure tea tree oil is potent and may cause additional irritation, so mix it with an equal amount of saline solution or carrier oil before use.

Generally speaking, antibiotics are supposed to treat and prevent bacterial infections. However, OTC antibiotics can end up doing more harm when they’re used on piercings.

OTC creams and ointments, such as Neosporin, are thick and can trap bacteria under the skin. This may lead to more irritation, making your infection worse.

Your Guide To Lip Piercing Healing & Aftercare

Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and other antiseptics can damage healthy skin cells. This can leave your piercing more susceptible to invading bacteria and prolong your infection.

You’re better off sticking with your cleansing and compress routine. See your piercer if you don’t see improvement within a day or two.

Infected

When it comes to lip piercings, you have to more than just clean the piercing site. You have to keep the rest of your mouth clean, too. This can help prevent the bacteria in your mouth from spreading to and getting trapped inside your piercing.

Numbness After Lower Lip Piercing

You may already know that daily flossing can help remove plaque and debris from in between your teeth and help prevent gingivitis. But it can also help prevent harmful bacteria from reaching your lips and further irritating your piercing.

Floss at night before brushing. You may consider using a floss holder to help with precision, so you don’t accidentally catch the floss on the jewelry.

From an oral health standpoint, brushing twice a day is just as important as flossing. You may also consider brushing midday to help prevent bacteria buildup. Toothpaste is unlikely to harm your lip piercing, but make sure you rinse thoroughly.

Infected Lip Piercing: Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, And More

As your lip piercing heals, focus on foods that are soft and unlikely to get caught on your jewelry. This includes mashed potatoes, yogurt, and oatmeal.

Figure

Alcohol can act as a blood thinner as well as damage the skin cells around the piercing. This may prolong your healing time and increase your risk of complications.

Coffee may also have blood-thinning effects. If you don’t want to take a temporary hiatus, cut back on your usual intake until the infection clears.

I'm Planning To Get Two Lips Piercings At Age 20 So Is It Possible To Get Two Lips Piercings?

Learning to evaluate everything that may come into contact with your lip — and adjusting accordingly — can help you reduce the amount of bacteria, debris, and dirt that gets into the piercing.

You should continue your daily cleansing and soaking routine unless your piercer advises otherwise. Keep up with this routine until all symptoms subside and until your lip piercing completely heals.

See your piercer if your symptoms don’t improve within two to three days, or if they worsen. They can take a look at the piercing and make specific recommendations for cleaning and care.

I've

Medusa Piercing Swelling: Causes And Treatment

Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.