When performed correctly, a primary infection is incredibly rare. But what is an infection, and when should you see your doctor? Piercings should be performed in a clean environment by an experienced and hygienic practitioner.
To a layperson, it is very easy to see totally normal parts of a healing piercing as signs of an infection. Let’s start by describing what a normal, healing piercing might look like!
We know we use this photo all the time, but it is a perfect example of a piercing that is only a few days old. This is totally normal!
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It is totally normal for a healing piercing to drain a clear, yellow or pale green fluid. This liquid can dry into a crust. The liquid itself is lymph – a mixture of plasma, immune cells, serous fluid, platelets and red blood cells. This lymph is a positive part of the healing process, and is often seen in the first few weeks of a new piercing as the initial swelling floods the piercing site with fluids and immune cells. You can read more on that here!
A healing piercing is also expected to be red, and swollen. We have just made a new hole in you, after all! This swelling can be uncomfortable, but will go down in time. This swelling can be exacerbated by your lifestyle. You might be increasing your swelling by playing with the piercing, eating a low-nutrient or high salt diet, or by taking certain medications. Swelling can also be a little more intense during very hot weather!
Pain, although not fun, is part of a healing piercing. You may expect a throbbing sensation for a few days afterwards, and depending on the piercing you may experience pain or discomfort for a few weeks. This pain is totally normal!
Infection From An Industrial Piercing
Here is a great example of what a fresh or healing piercing can look like. Swelling is totally normal, along with discharge and warmth.
It is for an infection to be caused by a competent piercer using an aseptic technique. Here at Rogue we specialise in infection control and aseptic techniques. Each stage of the sterilisation process is carefully controlled, verified, and logged to prove your jewellery has been handled safely and sterilised correctly. Each piece of jewellery undergoes a three-step sterilisation process, and we wear sterile gloves when piercing. The piercing itself is performed using entirely sterilised needles and tools. You can ask to see our sterilisation logs, where each sterilisation cycle is timed, dated, logged and stored alongside the chemical integrator that proves the cycle was successful in sterilising. Each Statim or other autoclave undergoes rigorous daily testing to make sure it is working perfectly! All of our equipment undergoes annual third-party testing, and the certification of this can be seen in each room. We are confident in these protocols and in our ability to perform an aseptic piercing.
Infections can be caused by a number of things, including submerging the piercing in stagnant water, touching your piercing with unwashed hands, working in a dirty or contaminated environment, wearing dirty clothing or using unclean headphones or stethoscopes. Secondary infections like this are the most common form – An infection introduced after the piercing has been performed, not by the piercing process itself. What does an actual infection look like, and what should you do about it?
How To Recognize And Treat An Infected Ear Piercing
Infections are dramatic – You will be acutely aware of it. Irritations are much more common, and easily solved with the help of your piercer!
Infections are rare, but with speedy diagnosis and treatment they can be solved and you can keep your piercing. We are always working at the highest levels of cleanliness and are always willing to help you, whether you were pierced by us or not.In a perfect world, you’d get your ears pierced and spend the rest of your life effortlessly rocking cute earrings. In reality? Sometimes piercings get infected, and—not gonna sugar-coat it—it can be really effing gross.
Luckily, infected ear piercings aren’t the norm and, if you get pierced at a reputable place and practice solid piercing after-care, you’re probably going to be just fine. Still, infected piercings can and do happen to good people. Whomp, whomp.
What Is An Infection?
If you find your piercing looking or feeling a little...off, it can be hard to tell the difference between minor irritation and a full-blown infection. But Kenneth A. Kaplan, MD, an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) with ENT and Allergy Associates in New Jersey, and Leila Mankarious, MD, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, are here to clear things up that confusion and answer all the burning (and oozing, and swollen—kidding!) questions you have about infected ear piercings.
Anyone can get an infected ear piercing, but it usually happens due to one of two major reasons, Dr. Kaplan says: Either your piercing site wasn’t adequately sterilized before you were pierced, or you kinda-sorta-definitely didn’t take great care of it after you were pierced.
Touching your piercing a lot, while it's still a new, open wound, can also expose it to bacteria that can cause an infection.
All About Tragus Piercing
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.
But infection symptoms won't 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, Dr. Mankarious says. Bacteria need time to proliferate.
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There are so many options for spots on your ear you can pierce and, TBH, you can get an infection anywhere. That said, some spots are riskier than others. “Piercings that go through ear cartilage are much more likely to become infected and are more difficult to treat than infections through the ear lobe or the soft tissues just above the lobe, ” Dr. Kaplan says.
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Dr. Mankarious agrees. Piercing infections are most likely to occur in areas where the blood supply is low and cartilage is notorious for a low blood supply, she explains. Cartilage infections can be particularly dangerous just for that reason. In other words, it's difficult for antibodies and antibiotics to reach the infection site when it's in your cartilage, giving the infection the opportunity to take over.
A huge factor is choosing a piercing shop that’s sanitary. “In general, the more experience someone has in doing piercings—with a reputation for good results—the better the odds of a favorable outcome, ” Dr. Kaplan says. Read reviews on the shop and on your piercer beforehand if you can find any. And if you go into a piercing shop and it seems like it’s not clean or you just don’t get a good vibe, go someplace else. The spot on your ear that you choose to pierce matters, too. “No physician will ever recommend piercing the cartilage of the ear, ” Dr. Kaplan says. Of course, that's never stopped anyone. That's why following your after-care instructions if so crucial, even after it seems like your piercing is all healed up. “Not strictly adhering to the post-piercing care instructions would increase the odds of infection, ” Dr. Kaplan says.
You can treat a minor infection at home. Dr. Kaplan recommends going back to the place where you got your piercing to have the area evaluated (provided, of course, the place is reputable). Places that do piercings see this kind of thing all the time and should be able to recommend next steps based on your situation.
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In general, Dr. Kaplan says that they'll recommend cleaning the site at least three times a day with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, and then applying a topical antibiotic ointment like Bacitracin, Neosporin, or Triple Ointment for at least a week. (You can use a cotton-tipped applicator for all of this, Dr. Mankarious says.)
A more major infection would have “severe redness, pain, and tenderness, discharge, and major swelling, Dr. Kaplan says. “Even worse infections might have pus draining from the site, abscess formation, or the appearance of reddish soft tissue at the piercing site, ” he says.
If the skin around your piercing becomes red and tender and you have a fever greater than 100.4 degrees, you may be dealing with cellulitis, a common and potentially serious bacterial skin infection.
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Of course, you can also have an allergy to the hardware in your ear and that can look like an infection. But, unfortunately, it can be tough for non-doctors to figure out the difference, Dr. Mankarious says. Professionals often think of allergies based on a history of allergies to metals as well as a lack of response to antibiotic treatment, she says. So if you're unsure, it's best to see a doc.
If you think you need to see a doctor, it’s really best to see an ear, nose and throat specialist or plastic surgeon if you can, Dr, Kaplan says. You may need oral antibiotics and, if you have any abscesses, they’ll need to be drained (fun!).
If you have a major infection or it involves the cartilage of your ear, you’re
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