Ear piercings..infection?

ok:

1) you say 'don't seem to be healing very well' - have you still got the earrings in?

2) how big would you say this lump is? 1mm diameter?

3) does it hurt normally? Does it hurt if you squeeze it?

I'll try and help but I think that information would be helpful first.

Reply 2

OP

1)yes the earrings (bars) are still in
2)about.. >--< big
3)only if sqeezed/knocked

Reply 3

er, I've probably got my resolution set differently to yours; 4mm?

Reply 4

OP

Aristogeiton

er, I've probably got my resolution set differently to yours; 4mm?

erm nah about 1-2mm??

Reply 5

ok, that's not too bad then. I wouldn't say it's anything to worry about unless it has a lot of discharge. So I'd just recommend you to continue cleaning it, some piercings take longer than others to settle down. I take it that your ear's not inflammed or anything?

I cleaned mine by putting some hydrogen peroxide 3% on them perhaps 2 or 3 times a day using cotton buds (about 70p a bottle in a chemist). THis seems to work very well. One of my piercings had something that sounds mildly similar to yours on and that soon cleaned it right up.

But if it starts to have lots of discharge then definitely see a doctor. It would be a bit pointless to see anyone unless it gets gooey because they'll just tell you to keep it clean and it's a waste of both your and their time.

I really wouldn't worry.

disclaimer: I'm not a health professional, but I have some piercings so I'm only speaking from experience.

Reply 6

OP

thanx

i've been reccommened to use savlon spray to clean...dya think i'll be ok sticking with that or is the hydrogen peroxide a must? :smile:

Reply 7

You speak of lumps... In my 2nd hole above the lobe, I have 2 quite large lumps, 1 behind each hole (these ARE visible). I have no idea what they are, but don't really want to go to a doctor as from past experience they believe it is your own fault, as you wanted to have someone shove a needle through you by choice. My third holes both have lumps too, but only small, not near as big as the other two. I have tried leaving jewellery out, but no use, they're still there. My lobe piercings are fine, no problems whatsoever :confused:

Reply 8

Juno

20

Lumps are quite common with ear piercings, and mostly aren't any problems. I wouldn't worry unless it is very red, painful or has lots of nasty discharge.

I'd stick with the Savlon spray, as it doesn't sound infected. But go to your piercer to make sure, and if necessary they'll tell you to go to your doctor.

Reply 9

Juno

Lumps are quite common with ear piercings, and mostly aren't any problems. I wouldn't worry unless it is very red, painful or has lots of nasty discharge.

I'd stick with the Savlon spray, as it doesn't sound infected. But go to your piercer to make sure, and if necessary they'll tell you to go to your doctor.

Thanks. I've had them for a while now, and they haven't got any worse or better. I think I'll just have to try different sparys/Hydrogen Peroxide etc. If not, I'm thinking of going to a Doctor and seeing about getting them removed, if they could do that. (I doubt it though, due to what I mentioned earlier!) They make me self conscious, and I tend to wear my hair down a lot now to cover them up.

Reply 10

^ I agree, discharge is a problem.

xXMessedUpXx

i've been reccommened to use savlon spray to clean...dya think i'll be ok sticking with that or is the hydrogen peroxide a must? :smile:

yeah, you're probably alright with that I just liked the hydrogen peroxide because it didn't give me any problems.

In fact, I don't see haw a spray would work quite so well...surely it wouldn't get in the gaps? I don't know.

Reply 11

Juno

20

lil_lee

Thanks. I've had them for a while now, and they haven't got any worse or better. I think I'll just have to try different sparys/Hydrogen Peroxide etc. If not, I'm thinking of going to a Doctor and seeing about getting them removed, if they could do that. (I doubt it though, due to what I mentioned earlier!) They make me self conscious, and I tend to wear my hair down a lot now to cover them up.

If you read around BME then somewhere they say what can be done about lumps on ears. It's in the Q&A somewhere. But they're not a problem unless they're accompanied by any other signs of infection.

Reply 12

Juno

If you read around BME then somewhere they say what can be done about lumps on ears. It's in the Q&A somewhere. But they're not a problem unless they're accompanied by any other signs of infection.

Thanks a lot! I actually go on BME quite a lot, I should have really looked there earlier :confused:

Thanks again x

Reply 13

OP

spray onto cotton wool..um stick things

Reply 14

xXMessedUpXx

spray onto cotton wool..um stick things

Cotton buds? :p:

Reply 15

Juno

20

Cotton wool "stick things" have a tendency to leave bits behind stuck in your piercing, so be careful.

Reply 16

Whenever I clean my piercings I take them out (if they're healed) and also clean the jewellery as well

Reply 17

OP

lil_lee

Whenever I clean my piercings I take them out (if they're healed) and also clean the jewellery as well

ditto

tho she told me to leave them in for about 6 months?

Reply 18

Zinc11

1

6months?!

the first time i pierced my ears, the person told me to leave it in for a month or so. I did and I got an infection, had lots of pus and yucky stuff. in the end, I let the hole close.

the second time, i pierced my ears in the same spot I left it in for about 2 weeks and it was fine. the same for the third pair of piercings. so i dont recommend leaving it in for 6 months.

Reply 19