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Infections in ear piercings are quite common, especially with new piercings. Most ear piercing infections will heal within 1-2 weeks if cleaned twice a day. You can use cotton balls or swabs dipped in saline solution or antibacterial soap to clean the piercing, then dry it with a paper towel. Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as these can slow down the healing process. See a doctor if the infection spreads, doesn’t improve after 2 days, or if you develop a fever. Always wash your hands before touching your piercing, and prevent reinfection by avoiding swimming and regularly cleaning your mobile phone.
Steps
Clean an Infected Piercing at Home
Wash your hands before touching the piercing. Always make sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching the piercing, especially if it's new or infected. Use antibacterial soap and warm water. Avoid fiddling with your earrings, and only touch them after washing your hands.
Do not remove the earrings. If your piercing is still fresh, keep the earrings in place for at least 6 weeks, even if it gets infected. It's recommended to rotate the earrings when the piercing is new, but avoid doing so for 1-2 weeks if the piercing is infected.
- If the infection is in a healed piercing or one that's been in place for over 6 months, you should remove the earring during the infection treatment period.
Clean the wound with saline or antibacterial soap. Dip a cotton ball or swab into saline solution or mild antibacterial soap and gently apply it around the infected area, then dry it with a disposable paper towel.
- If possible, use a saline solution provided by the piercing studio. Alternatively, you can buy pre-made saline solution or make your own by dissolving 2 teaspoons of salt in 1 liter of warm water.
- If you use soap, choose one that’s unscented and alcohol-free.
- Clean the piercing twice a day. You can rotate the earring while cleaning, but only when the piercing is wet with saline or soap solution.
Apply antibiotic ointment. After cleaning and drying the piercing, apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment to speed up the healing process. Dab a small amount of ointment onto a cotton ball or swab and apply it to the infected area.
- Do not use the ointment if the wound is oozing or discharging fluids.
Do not use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide can dry out the infected skin and kill the cells that aid in the healing process. The infection may worsen as white blood cells around the wound are destroyed. Avoid using alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, and ensure that your wound-care products are alcohol-free.
See a medical professional
Contact a doctor if the infection doesn’t improve after 2 days. Start by cleaning the wound twice a day. You should notice signs of improvement, such as reduced redness or swelling, within 2 days. If the infection worsens or shows no improvement, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor or visit a medical facility for further evaluation.
See a doctor if the infection spreads or if you have a fever. Monitor the infection closely during the first day. If the infection spreads beyond the piercing site or if you develop a fever, consult a doctor. This could be a sign of a more severe infection requiring antibiotic treatment.
Have a doctor check the cartilage piercing if infected. Be extra cautious when treating infections in cartilage piercings or the upper part of the ear. To ensure safety, it’s best to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Infections in cartilage piercings are more likely to worsen and can lead to long-term damage, such as cauliflower ear, where the cartilage becomes lumpy and deformed.
Discuss antibiotic use with your doctor. When you visit the clinic, the doctor may take a sample from the infection site to identify the bacteria causing the issue.
- Ask your doctor if antibiotics are necessary and which type would be most effective for your case.
- Do not clean the piercing for at least 24 hours before your appointment. The doctor will need to take a sample from the infected area for testing, and wound care products could interfere with the results.
Request an allergy test. Redness, swelling, itching, and other signs of infection could also be caused by an allergic reaction. If tests come back negative for infection, ask your doctor about allergy testing.
- If this is your first piercing, you may be allergic to the metal. To avoid allergic reactions, choose nickel-free earrings, as nickel is a common allergen.
- Your doctor may refer you to an allergist, where you’ll undergo further testing to identify potential allergens.
Preventing Re-infection
Avoid swimming when you first get a piercing. Always refrain from swimming for at least 2 weeks after getting your piercing. Stay away from swimming pools, natural bodies of water, and the ocean during this time, and be sure to clean the piercing with saline solution after bathing.
- You should also avoid swimming while treating an infected piercing.
Keep hair away from the piercing. If you have long hair, tie it back to prevent it from touching the newly pierced area or becoming infected. Wash your hair more frequently than usual.
- Be careful not to let hair spray or gel touch the piercing, and avoid snagging the earrings while brushing your hair.
Disinfect your mobile phone daily. Mobile phones are filled with bacteria that can cause infections, so it’s important to disinfect your phone regularly, even if you don’t have an infection. Remove the phone case and wipe down both the phone and case with disinfectant wipes or sprays.
- Make sure to clean any phones you use frequently.
- You can also use speakerphone when answering calls to avoid pressing the phone to your ear too much.
Remove earrings while sleeping once the piercing has fully healed. If your piercing is new, keep the original earrings in for the first 6 weeks and wear them continuously for 6 months. After 6 months, the piercing will be fully healed and won’t close up. Once the piercing is healed, it’s a good idea to remove the earrings while sleeping to allow airflow and prevent infections.
Get your piercing done at a reputable studio. The cleaner the piercing shop, the less likely you are to get an infection. Before going, check the reviews of the shop. Make sure the piercing studio is licensed. When you arrive, pay attention to whether the staff are wearing latex gloves and ask if they have sterilizing equipment for their tools.
- Getting a piercing at a night market or abroad on vacation is not advisable.
- Do not ask friends to pierce your ears at home as they may not have the proper sterilizing equipment.
Warning
- Though rare, Hepatitis C can be transmitted through unsterilized piercing equipment. Symptoms may include bleeding, bruising, skin itching, fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and swollen legs.
