Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Kaveri Karhade, MD and by How.com.vn staff writer, Carmine Shannon. Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 207,490 times.
Infected ear piercings are common, especially in new piercings. Most go away after one to two weeks, as long as you clean them twice a day. Use a cotton ball or swab soaked in a saline solution or antimicrobial soap to clean the infection, then dry the area with a disposable paper towel. Avoid using alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, as these substances will interfere with healing. See your doctor if the infection spreads, if it doesn't improve within two days, or if you develop a fever. Always wash your hands before touching your piercings, and prevent reinfecting the area by avoiding swimming and sanitizing your cell phone.
Steps
Wash your hands before touching the piercing. Always wash your hands well before touching a piercing, especially if it’s new or infected. Use an antimicrobial soap and warm water. Avoid fiddling with your earrings and only touch them when you have to clean them.[1]
Do not remove a new ear piercing. If your piercing is new, keep it in place for at least six weeks, even if it becomes infected.[2] While you should rotate a new lobe piercing, stop rotating it if it becomes infected for one to two weeks.- Keep the earring in place, even if the piercing is fully healed. Taking the jewelry out can sometimes trap the bacteria in the piercing, causing an abscess.[3] If your jewelry is bothering you, speak to your piercer or a doctor about switching it out.
Advertisement
Clean the piercing with a cotton ball dipped in saline twice a day. Soak a cotton ball in saline solution or a mild antimicrobial soap. Press the soaked ball against the front and back of the infected area. Dry the piercing with disposable paper towels.[4]- Use the saline solution your piercing provided at the shop, or purchase a wound wash for piercings.[5]
- If you don’t have access to sterile saline, use a solution of ⅛ to ¼ tsp (.75 to 1.42 g) iodine-free sea salt dissolved into 8 fluid ounces (240 ml) of warm distilled or bottled water.[6]
- If you use a soap, choose a fragrance-free brand that doesn’t contain alcohol. Don’t use antibacterial soap.
- Clean infected ear piercings twice a day, but don’t turn them.
- Use the saline solution your piercing provided at the shop, or purchase a wound wash for piercings.[5]
Apply an antibiotic ointment. After cleaning and drying the piercing, apply an antibacterial ointment to encourage healing. Dab a small amount of the ointment onto a cotton swab and paint a thin coating over the infected area.[7]- If the infection is weeping or emitting a discharge, avoid using ointment.[8]
Avoid rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide dry out the infected area and kill white blood cells that are needed for healing, which can make the infection even worse. Don’t apply alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to the infection, and make sure any cleaning products you use are alcohol-free.[9]
Contact your doctor if the infection doesn’t improve after two days. Start by cleaning the infection twice a day at home. If the infection worsens or shows no signs of improvement after two days, schedule an appointment with your doctor or visit a healthcare clinic.[10]
See a doctor if the infection spreads or if you develop a fever. Monitor the infection closely during the first day. See a doctor if the infection starts spreading beyond the piercing site or if you develop a fever. These could indicate a more serious infection that will require antibiotic treatment.[11]
Have a doctor examine an infected cartilage piercing. Cartilage is a rigid tissue with low blood supply, so infected cartilage piercings are more likely to escalate. If you have a cartilage piercing (ear piercing not on the lobe) speak to a doctor about treatment to prevent long-term damage.[12]
Talk to the doctor about getting antibiotics. Visit your doctor to have a culture taken of the infection site. This helps identify the type of bacteria that caused the infection.[13]- Ask the doctor, “Do you recommend any antibiotics for this infection? What type of antibiotic is most effective for this type of bacterial infection?”[14]
- Do not wash or clean the piercing for at least 24 hours before seeing a doctor. The doctor needs a swab of the infected ear to diagnose it, and cleaning products can interfere with this test.
Ask for an allergy test. Redness, swelling, itchiness, and other signs of infection can also be due to an allergy. If cultures come back negative, talk to your doctor about getting an allergy test.[15]- If you’ve never had a piercing before, you might find that you have a metal allergy. You can avoid allergic reactions to piercings by getting nickel-free jewelry, as nickel is the most common metallic allergen.
- Your doctor may refer you to an allergist for more specialized testing to identify what the allergy might be.
Avoid swimming after getting a new piercing. Always avoid swimming for at least two weeks after getting a new piercing.[16] Stay away from pools, lakes, and ocean water during that time, and clean the piercing with saline solution after taking a shower.[17]- Avoid swimming while treating an infected permanent piercing, as well.
Keep hair and beauty products away from the ear piercing. If you have long hair, tie it back to keep it away from a new or infected piercing. Wash your hair more often than you ordinarily would, and be careful not to snag the piercing while brushing or styling.[18]- Take care not to get hairspray or gel in the piercing.
Disinfect your cell phone daily. Remove your phone’s case and clean both the case and the phone using a disinfecting wipe or a lint-free cloth dipped in soapy water.[19] Cell phones are covered in bacteria that can cause infections, so clean your phone regularly.- Sanitize any other phones you use.
- You can also put your phone on speaker when people call. This minimizes how much you touch your ear.
Sleep without earrings after the piercings become permanent. If your piercing is new, keep your first post in for six weeks and wear an earring at all times for six months. After six months, take your earrings out at night to expose the channels to air and prevent infection.[20]
Visit reputable clinics for new piercings. Read reviews on piercing clinics and parlors before visiting. Make sure that the parlor is licensed. When you go to get a new ear piercing, watch to see that the staff wears latex gloves and ask if they have the proper machinery for sterilizing their equipment.- It is not a good idea to get pierced at night markets or abroad while on vacation.
- Don’t pierce your ears at home, as you need proper sterilization equipment.
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Warnings
References
- ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/news/its-easy-for-piercings-to-become-infected
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
- ↑ http://woundcaresociety.org/drain-infected-ear-piercing
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
- ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
- ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/
- ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
- ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-sanitize-your-phone-and-other-devices
- ↑ http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/library/pediatric_health/hhg_teen_pierced-ear/
- ↑ http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/news/hepatitis-c-and-body-piercing/
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/dxc-20207369
About This Article
Before you clean your infected ear piercing, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Then, soak a cotton ball in saline solution or a mild antimicrobial soap. Gently dab the cotton ball around the infected area, and dry it with a paper towel. You can then apply some antibiotic ointment with a cotton swab, which will promote healing. If your piercing is more than 6 weeks old, you can remove your earring to clean the infected piercing. However, you should leave your earring in place if the piercing is less than 6 weeks old, even if it’s infected. For information on how to tell when your infected ear piercing warrants medical attention, read on!
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
