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pierced ear infection

I had my ears pierced about 7 weeks ago. I took the studs out last week, but my ears seem to be infected- there's a small swelling, and they are really sore when I put earrings in. Also, I am having difficulties getting my earrings through the hole, it takes me ages to find the exit hole, which is making my ears feel even more sore. What's the best thing to do?

Reply 1

Chi3f

see a doctor

Reply 2

eh_crimbo

ive learnt from experience to NEVER take piercings out whilst theyre healing, though 7 weeks for ears is quite some time..did you change the earrings at all? and was it kinda infected before you took them out?

i suggest you keep them in, clean them with that cleaning solution they give you, dyu still have any? & soak salt water (boil it first to kill germs etc) or saline water (the stuff you clean contact lenses with) in cotton wool and press it against the piercings for ages (aka 10 minutes or so), about twice a day, or more if you want. i used to use a cotton bud with dettol to clean mine...which made it go down nearly instantly - though ive heard you shouldnt use that, cos its really strong..but back then i didnt have many options as i pierced mine myself...9 times..aargghh..

oh, and remember to sterilise or clean properly the first few pairs of earrings you start wearing..you dont want to go through this again do you...

Reply 3

eh_crimbo

oh, forgot to mention, even when piercings do seem to be completely healed, they may not necessarily be..mine were still prone to infection after a year i think...though i hardly ever cleaned/took care of mine...hmm...maybe you shouldnt take my advice then...

Reply 4

pjrox

thanks! just a couple of things- how do you know if your ears are healed without taking the earrings out? And approx. how long do u reckon it'll take?

Reply 5

strawberry

I don't remember myself cos I pierced my ears 11 years ago. All I remember is that I never took the earrings off but twirled them every day so that the hole wouldn't close up...and my mom applied some lotion every day. :smile:

Reply 6

eh_crimbo

well, its different for everyone..they say about 6 weeks for lobes - im thinking thats what you meant - (up to/about 3 months for the cartilage/rook/tragus - ive had them all done, though not by myself of course..eew..)...though its hard to tell even if it feels fine, just make sure you've cleaned the earrings you plan to put in properly, put them in straight away, and dont go straight to putting heavy ones in - which makes them sore & itchy if they are completely healed - or big ones in, cos they could catch & it'd be v v v painful...even when they are healed after say 6 months they could still be a possibility of it getting infected again, so just make sure everything that you put in them is clean

taking vit C & zinc is meant to speed up the healing process..though its probably going a bit too far..

hope it goes down soon!! :p: