If your piercing looks red or swollen, you may have an infection. Infections are common with self-piercing piercings, but all piercings can develop a serious infection within a few days if not treated properly. If you manage to keep your piercing clean and moist for a few weeks after the piercing nothing bad will happen, but sometimes infections will persist even if you're careful.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Treating Infected Piercings
Step 1. Know the symptoms of an infected piercing
Infection most often occurs after self-piercing or when something goes wrong with the piercing. Here are the symptoms of infection in the piercing:
- Pain or soreness
- Excessive reddening of the skin
- Swollen
- The piercing oozes pus, blood, or other fluid
Step 2. Begin treatment as soon as possible
Infection can develop quickly if not treated immediately. Most infections can be treated with proper cleaning frequently. Don't hesitate to contact the salon where you pierced if you have any questions. When in doubt, always clean your piercing with warm water and soap.
Step 3. Wash your ears with a saline solution
This solution can be purchased from a piercing salon, or you can make your own at home. Mix 1/8 tablespoon of non-iodized salt with a glass of distilled water and stir until dissolved. Immerse your piercing in the solution, or soak a clean cotton swab in the solution and wipe your piercing for 20 minutes, twice a day.
Step 4. Apply an antibiotic medication to the piercing
Use an ointment such as polymyxin B sulfate (Polysporin) or bacitracin to kill the bacteria causing the infection. Gently dab the wound with the ointment with a cotton swab twice a day.
If your skin starts to develop a rash or itchy skin, stop using the ointment. The skin rash could be caused by a drug allergy
Step 5. Use an ice pack to reduce swelling or bruising
Ice can reduce swelling around the piercing and help fight infection. Never allow the ice to come into direct contact with the skin, this will damage the skin tissue. Wrap the ice in a cloth or towel to protect your skin.
Step 6. Visit or contact your piercer
They will give advice based on the piercing and the symptoms that appear. In general, they will repeat the post-piercing cleaning process. This process is very helpful in fighting infection.
- For minor infections, the piercer will likely only advise you on treatment.
- For severe infections, the piercer will produce a doctor's recommendation letter along with instructions regarding the wound, piercing, and possible solutions.
Step 7. See a doctor if the infection has been going on for more than 48 hours or is causing a fever
In general, doctors will prescribe antibiotics that are taken orally. If you don't notice any change or if your symptoms get worse after you treat them at home, see a doctor. The symptoms you should watch out for are:
- Muscle or joint pain
- Fever
- Freezing
- Nausea or vomiting
Method 2 of 2: Preventing Infection
Step 1. Clean your piercing often
Wet a clean cloth with warm soapy water and scrub your new piercing. Cleaning dust, dirt, and bacteria from your piercing will be enough to prevent infection.
- Be sure to clean your piercing after exercising, going outside, cooking, or cleaning the house.
- While you can use alcohol to kill bacteria, it will dry out your skin and make it easier for infections to occur.
Step 2. Wash your piercing with a saline solution twice a day
This solution can be purchased from a piercing salon, or you can make your own at home. Mix 1/8 tablespoon of non-iodized salt with a glass of distilled water and stir until dissolved. Immerse your piercing in the solution, or soak a clean cotton swab in the solution and wipe your piercing for 20 minutes, twice a day.
Step 3. Keep your hands clean
Dirty hands are the most common cause of infection. Always clean your hands before touching or caring for your piercing.
Step 4. Avoid wearing tight clothing around the piercing
If you have piercings that constantly rub against clothing, wear looser clothing. Especially for piercings that are in the navel, intimate area, nipples, or upper body.
Step 5. Avoid being in the pool, hot tub, or gym for 2-3 days after your piercing
These places are hotbeds of moisture and infection-causing bacteria. Your piercing is an open wound and is very susceptible to bacterial attack.
Step 6. Know that all piercings will be inflamed for a few days
You don't have to worry if your piercing is red and sore for the first few days, it's a normal body reaction to a needle prick. Inflammation is common and can be treated with an ice pack and ibuprofen. If the inflammation lasts for more than 3-5 days, you may have an infection.
Step 7. Remove jewelry if you are concerned about getting an infection
If your piercing is festering, is very painful, or is very swollen, remove the jewelry and clean the infected area with soap and water. Do not remove the jewelry if there is no infection, to put it back on you will have to go to a piercing salon.
Clean your jewelry in hot soapy water and put it back on if your piercing is just a little red and swollen. This can prevent infection
Tips
- Perform treatment with saline solution at least once a day. If you do more than twice your piercing will become dry.
- Always wash your hands before touching your piercing.
- For piercings in places like nipples, mix salt and water in a glass. Immerse your piercing in the solution for 5-10 minutes.
- Use a hot compress every twenty minutes to reduce swelling and infection.
- Do not remove jewelry from infected piercings. The infection will get trapped under the skin when your wound closes and will be very difficult to treat.
- All infections should be treated as soon as possible as they can progress quickly.
- If you're not worried about an infection, cleaning your new piercing can usually speed up the wound closure process.
- Consider using pure gold or silver as piercing jewelry. Other types of metal (surgical iron, etc.) have the potential to cause infection.
Warning
- Don't take out your piercing.
- Go to the doctor if you feel very sick or have a fever. These symptoms generally require infection medication.
- See a doctor as soon as possible.
