Infected piercing. Should I take it out?

I have 6 piercings, the first 5 of which are fine, but my most recent (belly bar) has gone a bit nasty.

I had a pair of ear piercings (third holes) that didn't work out, and I left them in for a while just to see, but they didn't get any better. Maybe some areas of your body take better to piercings than others? Should I stick it out and see if it gets any better - it doesn't hurt or anything - or should I take it out? If I take it out, I probably wont get it done again...

Before people start posting crud about my stomach having to be amputated and the like, I just want a simple "yes" or a "no". I do not want stories about body parts falling off or pussssss or blooood, or anything like that. Thanx,
Much love,
E.

Reply 1

tetrahydrocannabinol.

10

Hmm...not an expert but it's probs best to douse it in antiseptic/salt water etc and either leave it in overnight so it doesn't heal up as long as the metal is hypoallergenic, then to see a doc tomorrow...hope that helps, I'm sure other TRSers will have better advice than me!

Reply 2

greeneggs

OP

10

chloe-libertine

Hmm...not an expert but it's probs best to douse it in antiseptic/salt water etc and either leave it in overnight so it doesn't heal up as long as the metal is hypoallergenic, then to see a doc tomorrow...hope that helps, I'm sure other TRSers will have better advice than me!

Hmmm... I have been using both the solution that the body artist gave me and also drops of neat lavender oil, but neither are working. :frown:

Reply 3

wiwarin_mir

Why do you think it's infected? If it doesn't hurt, it probably isn't.

Anyway, even if it was you shouldn't take it out. Just do salt water soaks twice a day (more if it gets excessively crusty) and look after it. Visit your piercer if you're worried, and they can tell you what to do.

Reply 4

tetrahydrocannabinol.

10

emmajcunningham

Hmmm... I have been using both the solution that the body artist gave me and also drops of neat lavender oil, but neither are working. :frown:

You could try TCP, it stinks but boy does it work, and salt water soaks are really effective too

Reply 5

wiwarin_mir

That'll be the problem. Do not use TCP, and stop using lavendar oil! All you need is salt water.

Reply 6

greeneggs

OP

10

wiwarin_mir

Why do you think it's infected? If it doesn't hurt, it probably isn't.

Pus. Need I say more?

And thanks for the advice. I will try with the salt water.

Reply 7

weeniebellini

Salt water soaks twice a day for a good 10 minutes, boring as hell but works. And really really really weak salt water, less than a teaspoon in a pint of boiled and then cooled down water. Nothing stronger or itll just aggravate it. I have 12 piercings including my belly, and another good tip is dont fiddle with it, so no unneccesarry touching (hands are dirty dirty beasts!) and try not to knock it on anything. Good luck!

Reply 8

yellow96

15

Don't take it out. If it develops into an abscess with no hole to 'escape' from, you'll be screwed. My navel piercing went well nasty for a month or two after having it done, and I found salt soaks only made it worse, so instead I washed it with soapy water twice a day and otherwise left it alone. After a week or two.. well, I won't scar you mentally with the details, but it got better. Don't be tempted to take it out for a few hours or it'll heal up. Plus taking it out will just introduce even more bacteria.

Reply 9

smellielli

1

Salt water is the best idea.

Reply 10

Jennybean

13

emmajcunningham

Hmmm... I have been using both the solution that the body artist gave me and also drops of neat lavender oil, but neither are working. :frown:

Here's why it's going crappy! You shouldn't put neat essential oils on any skin let alone a piercing. Stop doing that and just use the solution given to you, give it a week and if it's not starting to look better start using a stronger antiseptic like one recommended by other people in this thread. Salt water will work but will sting like ****. Savlon and germolene are your best bets, plus you could use a moisturiser like cocoa butter on it as the vitamin E will help with cell turnover. You could mix a couple of drops of tea tree oil into the moisturiser as well to aid with the antiseptic mission. If at any point it looks very red and inflamed, oozes really gross yellow pus or feels very tight and sore, go and see a GP asap as it could be an abscess that will need to be lanced to avoid septicaemia, local or otherwise - luckily the blood supply to the belly button is pretty limited so you more likely than not won't die if this happens :p:

Reply 11

Cromulent

12

Why in gods name are you putting lavender oil on a cut / wound / infected area of skin? I mean what is the reasoning behind that?

Reply 12

high priestess fnord

9

all belly button peircings get a bit of puss, unless its very swollen and painful then i wouldnt worry too much. if it is infected take it out, if not then the usual cleaning thing is to soak it twice a day in warm salt water. im sure you can find good instructions on the net.

Reply 13

rosetinted

2

Definitely don't put tea tree oil, cocoa butter or any of the stuff that Jennybean suggested on it. The only thing you should use to clean your piercing is a warm, mild salt water solution twice a day (1/4 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, it should be about as salty as tears). Soak it for about 5 minutes and after soaking gently remove any crusty bits left on with a cotton wool bud dipped in the salt water solution. Warm salty water is a natural astringent and will draw out any infection.

Don't remove the piercing when it is infected as this can trap bacteria under the skin and cause an abscess. Just clean it and stop using the lavender oil and it will heal up. :smile:

Reply 14

ch0c0h01ic

18

If your piercings do get infected there is a chance of amputations/body parts falling off/even death! There was one twenty something bloke in the paper who died from blood poisoning caused by his eyebrow piercing getting infected, impressive eh!

If they are infected, take them out, sterilise the piercings by pouring boiling water over them as they, or the piercer brought them there. Start bathing the pierced areas with some sort of disinfectant solution, salt water is ok as the salt will dehydrate the wound and help seal it. A tea tree oil solution is also good because its a natural antiseptic which has been shown to kill MRSA.

If it doesn't clear up after a week, go to your doctor, you may need antibiotics to clear up the infections if they have entered your system.

Reply 15

Cromulent

12

ch0c0h01ic

A tea tree oil solution is also good because its a natural antiseptic which has been shown to kill MRSA.

I hate it when people use the fact that something kills MRSA as an example of how good something is. It is easy to kill MRSA when it is outside the body, you could use Agent Orange if you really wanted too.

The problem is when a person is sick with MRSA, that is when it is hard to treat it. Not when it is on a piercing.

Edit : I'm an idiot :smile:

. Just realised you were talking about the piercing while it was still in, still I'm ill.

Reply 16

cheekylittleminx

Yeah do the saltwater thing - my nipple one never healed after a year so I had to take it out - just give it a while and if it's not healed within a year then take it out!
XX

Reply 17

Yoda

12

Yoda's friend had her belly button pierced which went a little wrong. She just cleaned it up with antiseptic or something crap regularly, and it is fine now.

Reply 18

greeneggs

OP

10

Cromulent

Why in gods name are you putting lavender oil on a cut / wound / infected area of skin? I mean what is the reasoning behind that?

I was told it was a good idea.

Ok, well the general vibe is that the salt water solution is the way to go. Will do. Ta everyone. x

Reply 19

crema

9

rosetinted

Definitely don't put tea tree oil, cocoa butter or any of the stuff that Jennybean suggested on it. The only thing you should use to clean your piercing is a warm, mild salt water solution twice a day (1/4 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, it should be about as salty as tears). Soak it for about 5 minutes and after soaking gently remove any crusty bits left on with a cotton wool bud dipped in the salt water solution. Warm salty water is a natural astringent and will draw out any infection.

Don't remove the piercing when it is infected as this can trap bacteria under the skin and cause an abscess. Just clean it and stop using the lavender oil and it will heal up. :smile:

This is the most sensible advice on this topic. Do this and the infection should clear up. If it doesn't or gets worse go to a GP who can prescribe antibiotics to get rid of the infection before removing the jewellery.

Personally I have also used mild and slightly antiseptic soap in the shower to clean the piercing, athough I heard for some people it may just make the skin irritated and more sore.

Infected piercing. Should I take it out?

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