Piercing Tragus Inflammation

The tragus is a small pointed area of cartilage on the inner side of the external ear. Situated in front of the entrance to the ear, it partly covers the passage to the organs of hearing.

The tragus is a favorite place to get an ear piercing, and while it can look great, this type of piercing can easily become infected if it is not cared for properly.

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A person who has had their tragus pierced should keep an eye out for the signs and symptoms of an infection so that it can be treated and managed. To identify an infection, a person needs to know what to expect after a tragus piercing.

I Believe My Tragus Piercing Is Infected And I Am Unable To Take It Out Due To Extreme Swelling. I've Been Cleaning It With Saline Solution Since Yesterday. What Should I Do? :

These are all typical symptoms of the body beginning to heal the wound. Although it can sometimes take around 8 weeks for the wound to fully heal, these symptoms should not last more than 2 weeks.

Only touch your piercing when necessary after thoroughly washing hands with antibacterial soap. Do not remove or change the jewelry until the piercing has fully healed.

Clean the piercing regularly using a saline solution. Most piercers will provide information on how to properly clean the piercing after they have done it.

Infected Tragus Piercing: Symptoms, Treatment, And More

A warm compress can be very soothing on a new piercing and can help reduce redness and swelling and encourage the wound to heal faster. A clean towel soaked in warm water can be helpful.

Make sure to change bed sheets regularly. This will reduce the number of bacteria that can come into contact with the ear while sleeping. Try to sleep on the side that is not pierced, so the wound does not press into sheets and pillows.

While the wound is healing it is best to avoid drugs, alcohol and smoking all of which can increase the healing time. Paying close attention to personal hygiene and following good hygiene practices will also minimize the risk of infection and help the piercing to heal faster.

The Coolest Types Of Ear Piercings To Try In 2023

Most ear piercing infections can be treated if caught early and properly managed. However, if left untreated, it is possible for an infection to become severe and enter the bloodstream. Infections near the head and brain can be particularly dangerous.

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Swelling with a tragus piercing should only be a cause for concern if it isn’t reducing over time or is worsening. A few days of swelling and soreness shouldn’t be cause for alarm. If the swelling is accompanied by prolonged redness, discharge and overwhelming pain, you may be dealing with an infection.

URGENT

What To Know Before You Get A Tragus Or Daith Piercing

Piercings in fleshy areas with high blood flow heal quickly with few complications. Tragus piercings are a little bit more complex. They can actually take much longer to recover because the piercing is going through tough cartilage which has notoriously low blood flow.

Along with taking longer to heal, cartilage piercings are also more prone to swelling and infection. This is also due to the lack of blood flow to the cartilage, which means that our infection-fighting cells arrive in smaller numbers when needed. 

The first thing to note is that mild swelling for a couple of days after the procedure is definitely to be expected. You’ve just had a needle poked through your skin after all. However, if the swelling lingers or continues to get worse instead of better, other factors may be at play.

Advice Please? Tragus Piercing Not Healed After 2.5 Years

If you’re not cleaning your piercing and the surrounding area properly, bacteria will find its way in. Any experienced or reputable piercer will give you detailed aftercare cleaning instructions. This usually involves cleaning your piercing twice daily with salt water or a saline solution. If you neglect to do this, you’re putting yourself at a higher risk for infection.

Continually playing with or touching your new piercing is a sure way to transfer germs and bacteria. Remember that swelling occurs as a natural reaction to an infection. This is your body’s defense system in full action. Touching your new jewelry with unwashed hands can help trap dirt in the piercing hole. If you’re dying to touch it, clean your hands thoroughly with a good antibacterial soap beforehand, and keep touching to an absolute minimum.

Infected

Anything that isn’t sterile or sanitary that comes in contact with your piercing can contribute to swelling. If you have long hair that hangs over your ears, it can get caught in the piercing. This can irritate the wound and expose it to more bacteria. Be sure to keep your hair tied up during the first couple of weeks — that applies to dudes, too!

A Complete Guide To Tragus Piercings

If the jewelry has been screwed on too tightly, there might not be enough oxygen getting to the wound. Like any other open wound, piercings need room to breathe. If not given sufficient oxygen, the risk of infection increases as the wound will take longer to heal.

If it’s just a bit of swelling, monitor it for a few days. If the swelling isn’t going away or worsening, be alert for infection. Since tragus piercings have a longer healing time, the chances of infection are higher. Look out for symptoms like:

These are the most common symptoms associated with tragus piercing infections. If you experience one or a combination of these, you can try to treat it at home with some simple DIY remedies. If the symptoms persist or get worse, contact a medical professional.

After No Less Than Seven Months Of Pain, Swelling, Sleeping On A Neck Pillow, And So Many Bumps, I Have A Fully Healed Anti Tragus. I Never Thought This Day Would Come! :

Cleaning a piercing with a salt-water or saline solution is a gentle and effective way to promote healing and prevent infection. Here’s how to do it:

Infected

The best aftercare product I’ve personally used is the After Inked Piercing Aftercare Spray. Not only is it vegan, but it’s also completely alcohol and additive-free. The solution works well on all skin types including sensitive skin, and it comes in a generously-sized mist-spraying bottle for easy application. When using it from the very start of the healing process, the spray helps to decrease healing times and aims to eliminate any lingering pain or soreness.​

Cold compresses are useful for calming inflammation. Hot compresses relax blood vessels and promote blood flow. This is important for cartilage piercings where blood flow is minimal.

Earlobes Can Only Handle So Much

For a hot compress, you can soak a piece of cloth in wam salt water and apply it directly to the piercing site.

For a cold compress, you can simply wrap an ice pack in paper towels or a clean cloth and apply it to the area. Make sure you don’t apply anything cold directly to the skin, though, as this can cause burns to the area and delay healing.

Excessive swelling or prolonged swelling of a tragus piercing that’s not improving or is getting worse could be a sign of infection or other complication, and you should seek medical attention promptly. Infections can be serious if not addressed and can lead to permanent damage.

Why

Infected Tragus Piercings: Symptoms & Treatment

A swollen tragus piercing shouldn’t be a significant cause for concern, and you should only seem further advice if the swelling gets worse or you’re experiencing other symptoms associated with infection.

If you fear that you may have an infection, go to your piercer for a consultation first. They’ll be able to advise if you should see a medical professional.