A new ear 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. Taking good care of your piercing is key to preventing infection.
An ear piercing is a hole through your earlobe or the cartilage in your middle or upper ear. Ear piercing infections may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes, piercings ooze blood or white, yellow or green 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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Your upper ear is cartilage, a thick, stiff tissue with less blood flow. Piercings in your upper ear are more likely to become infected, and infections in your upper ear are sometimes serious.
Millions of people get their ears pierced every year, and most of them have no serious complications. Mild irritation and infections are common, however, for new piercings. In most cases, infections aren’t serious and clear up quickly.
Some pain and redness are part of the normal healing process for pierced ears. It can be easy to confuse those with signs of infection.
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If there’s a bump on the back of the ear piercing, it’s not necessarily infected. Small bumps called granulomas can sometimes form around the piercing. These bumps are trapped fluid that you can treat by compressing them with warm water.
If bacteria get into a new piercing, it can lead to infection. You may expose your new piercing to harmful bacteria by:
Many things can increase your risk of getting an infection from an ear piercing. Certain health conditions can affect your body’s immune system and your ability to fight infection. These conditions include:
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Upper ear piercings are more likely to get infected. Left untreated, these infections can lead to a condition known as perichondritis. An infection can also spread into your body (systemic infection).
If you see signs of an infected cartilage piercing, you should contact a healthcare provider. The provider can assess the severity of the infection.
A healthcare provider can tell you what to do for an infected ear piercing. They may recommend a variety of treatments to help heal an infected ear piercing. Ear piercing infection treatment may include:
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With good care, most infections clear up within a few days. If your infected ear piercing isn’t improving, you should see a healthcare provider.
Getting your ears pierced is most often a safe, simple procedure. Be sure to go to an experienced piercer who practices proper hygiene. Keep your new piercings clean, and don’t remove your earrings until your piercings have healed completely. Be patient — by preventing an infection now, you can enjoy your healthy piercings for years to come.
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Over time, cartilage piercings may develop other bumps due to infections or scarring. In this article, learn more about the causes and treatments for a cartilage piercing bump.
A cartilage piercing bump may be tiny and appear under the skin, or so large that it changes the shape of the ear.
The healing process can take many months. During this period, the body’s immune system tries to heal the wound and prevent bacterial infections.
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Shortly after a piercing, it is not unusual to experience some bruising, redness, or swelling. A swollen bump may form around the piercing.
When bacteria or other harmful microbes get into a wound, they can cause an infection. A piercing is more vulnerable to infection before it fully heals.
Some infections are minor and clear up on their own. Some infections, however, are severe and may spread to other areas of the body.
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. Some infections may even cause the ear to become deformed, so people should speak to a doctor if they experience any symptoms.
A pustule, or piercing blister, looks like a pimple on or next to the piercing. It is a type of localized infection.
Sometimes, the blisters go away and return. See a doctor if the blister keeps coming back, if it is very painful, or if multiple blisters appear.
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Granulation tissue is extra tissue that grows next to or over a healing wound. It may look or feel like a hard lump or a blister. Picking at the tissue or trying to remove it at home can cause an infection.
A doctor can remove the extra tissue with one of many in-office procedures, such as liquid nitrogen or silver nitrate. In some cases, a piercer may need to redo the piercing, or a person may need to abandon the piercing.
Keloid and hypertrophic scars are large scars that appear after a wound has healed. While anyone can develop these scars, people with darker skin seem more likely to get keloids.
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Keloids are typically larger than hypertrophic scars. They can grow so large that they itch or make it difficult to move the area. Hypertrophic scars are smaller and may fade with time.
A doctor may be able to shrink the scar by injecting a corticosteroid or freezing if off. Keloids may get bigger if a doctor operates on them, so surgery is not often an appropriate treatment.
An allergic reaction can cause bumps or swelling near the piercing. A person might notice symptoms either shortly after the piercing or after changing the jewelry.
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Allergic reactions may cause intense itching or pain. The wound may look infected. Nickel is the most common cause of jewelry allergies and is usually present in gold or silver-plated jewelry. Switching to surgical steel, hypoallergenic, or certified nickel-free jewelry may help.
A person who has an allergic reaction may need to change the piercing jewelry. If the reaction is severe, they may need to let the piercing heal over instead. Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), may help if the itching or irritation is severe.
Most piercings heal on their own, but minor irritation and complications are common. Rarely, a person may experience more severe issues, such as damage to the ear or systemic infection.
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Talk to a licensed piercer about the right piercing aftercare, then diligently follow their instructions. If the piercing is painful, red, or swollen and home treatment does not help, seek medical advice.
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