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If you’ve recently gotten a piercing and are unsure whether it’s healing normally or, worse, infected, it’s crucial to learn how to spot infection signs for proper treatment and care. Pay attention to symptoms like pain, swelling, redness, warmth, pus discharge, or more severe indicators. Always follow proper aftercare practices to minimize the risk of infection.
Steps
Recognizing Signs of Infection
Check if the piercing area is becoming redder. A new piercing is typically slightly pink since it’s essentially a wound. However, if the redness intensifies or spreads, it could indicate an infection. Monitor the piercing to see if the redness subsides or worsens over a day or two.
Pay attention to swelling. The area around the piercing will typically swell within 48 hours after the procedure as the body adjusts to the wound. After this period, the swelling should subside. Increased swelling beyond the normal timeframe, especially when accompanied by redness and pain, may indicate an infection.
- Swelling can impair bodily functions, such as difficulty moving the tongue if it’s pierced. If the area around the piercing is so swollen and painful that movement is restricted, an infection might be present.
Monitor pain levels. Pain is the body’s way of signaling that something is wrong. Discomfort after a piercing usually diminishes within two days as the wound begins to heal. The area might feel sharp, sore, burning, or throbbing. Pain lasting longer than two days or worsening over time could be a sign of infection.
- Of course, accidentally irritating the piercing can cause pain. However, severe or persistent pain beyond the expected healing period is a red flag for infection.
Check for warmth around the area. Redness, swelling, and pain often generate heat. If infected, the pierced area may feel warm or hot to the touch. Always wash your hands before touching the piercing to check for temperature changes.
Look for discharge or pus. A new piercing may release a clear or white fluid that forms a crust around the jewelry. This is normal and part of the healing process, known as lymph fluid. However, thick, discolored discharge (yellow or green) is likely pus, often accompanied by a foul odor.
- Any thick, cloudy, or colored discharge is considered a sign of infection.
Consider the timing of the piercing. Discomfort on the day of the piercing is unlikely to be an infection; signs of infection usually develop a day or more later. Infections are also rare in fully healed piercings.
- However, infections can occur in old piercings if the area is injured. Any open wound on the skin can become a gateway for bacteria.
Consider the piercing location. If the piercing is in an area prone to infection, you should be extra cautious. Consult your piercer about the specific infection risks associated with your piercing.
- Navel piercings require meticulous hygiene. Due to their warm and sometimes moist environment, they are at higher risk of infection.
- Tongue piercings also carry a higher risk of infection due to bacteria in the mouth. Infections in this area can lead to severe complications, such as brain inflammation.
Avoiding Infections
Clean the piercing properly. Your piercer will provide specific aftercare instructions and recommend appropriate cleaning products. Different piercings have different cleaning requirements, so always follow written guidelines. Generally, adhere to these simple steps:
- Clean the piercing with warm water and unscented antibacterial soap like Dial.
- Avoid using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as these can be too harsh and irritate the skin.
- Do not apply antibiotic creams or ointments, as they can trap debris and prevent the piercing from breathing.
- Use non-iodized sea salt mixed with warm water for cleaning, not table salt.
- Clean the piercing as often as recommended—neither more nor less. Over-cleaning can dry out the skin, while under-cleaning can lead to buildup of dirt and dead skin.
- Gently rotate or move the jewelry during cleaning to allow the solution to reach inside the piercing. Check with your piercer if this is suitable for your specific piercing.
Follow aftercare instructions carefully. Proper care can prevent pain and infection. Here are some general aftercare tips for new piercings:
- Avoid sleeping on the piercing. Jewelry can rub against bedding, causing irritation and introducing dirt.
- Always wash your hands before touching the piercing or surrounding area.
- Do not remove the jewelry before the piercing heals, as this can trap bacteria inside.
- Avoid tight clothing that may rub against the piercing, and refrain from twisting the jewelry unless cleaning.
- Stay away from pools, lakes, hot tubs, and other bodies of water until the piercing heals.
Choose a reputable piercing studio. One in five piercings results in infection, often due to unsterile procedures or improper aftercare. Only get pierced at clean, reputable studios by skilled professionals. Before the procedure, ask about their sterilization methods—they should use an autoclave and disinfect all surfaces with bleach or sterilizing agents.
- Piercers should only use sterile, single-use needles and wear fresh, sterile gloves during the procedure.
- Avoid studios that use piercing guns. Seek out professional studios that follow strict sterilization protocols.
- Check local regulations for licensing and certification requirements for piercers.
- Never attempt to pierce yourself or let an untrained friend do it.
Use hypoallergenic jewelry for piercings. While an allergic reaction to jewelry is not the same as an infection, anything that irritates a new piercing increases the risk of infection. Severe infections may require removing the jewelry. Always opt for hypoallergenic materials to support optimal healing.
- Choose jewelry made of surgical steel, titanium, niobium, or 14-18 karat gold.
Understand the healing timeline for piercings. Different body parts have varying healing times due to differences in tissue type and blood flow. Research the characteristics of your specific piercing to know how long extra care is needed (for piercings not listed here, consult your piercer):
- Ear cartilage: 6-12 months
- Nose: 6-12 months
- Cheek: 6-12 months
- Nipple: 6-12 months
- Navel: 6-12 months
- Surface/dermal: 6-12 months
- Earlobe: 6-8 weeks
- Eyebrow: 6-8 weeks
- Septum: 6-8 weeks
- Lip or facial piercings: 6-8 weeks
- Genital (male): 6-8 weeks
- Genital (female): 4-6 weeks
- Tongue: 4 weeks
Handling Infections
Try home remedies for mild infections. Dissolve 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of non-iodized sea salt in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water, using a clean, preferably disposable cup for each soak. Soak or apply a clean cloth soaked in the saline solution to the piercing. Repeat 2-3 times daily for 15 minutes.
- If the condition doesn’t improve within 2-3 days or worsens, contact your piercer or doctor for assistance.
- Ensure the entire pierced area is submerged in the saline solution, covering both sides of the piercing. Continue daily cleaning with warm water and mild antibacterial soap.
- You may also apply a small amount of antibiotic ointment if an infection is present.
Contact your piercer for minor issues. If you notice mild signs of infection like redness or swelling that don’t subside, call your piercer for advice. You can also visit the piercing studio if there’s discharge—they’ve seen many cases and can tell you if it’s normal.
- This applies only to professional piercers who performed your piercing. Otherwise, consult a doctor.
Seek medical attention if you experience fever, chills, or stomach issues. Piercing infections are usually localized, but if the infection spreads or enters the bloodstream, it can lead to severe, life-threatening systemic infections. Symptoms of a serious infection may include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, or dizziness.
- If pain, swelling, and redness around the piercing begin to spread, see a doctor immediately. This could indicate a worsening infection affecting other parts of the body.
- A doctor may prescribe antibiotics to control the infection. If the infection has entered the bloodstream, hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics may be required.
Tips
- Be cautious with infections in facial or oral piercings; their proximity to the brain makes these infections particularly dangerous.
- Crusting around a piercing isn’t always a sign of infection; it’s often part of the healing process.
- Avoid using soap or ointments on a suspected infected piercing! Stick to warm saline solution (1/4 teaspoon of non-iodized salt in 1 cup of water). Only use other treatments if recommended by your piercer or doctor. When in doubt, consult a reputable piercing studio before issues escalate.
Warnings
- Seek immediate medical care if you experience systemic symptoms like nausea, vomiting, chills, dizziness, or confusion. Blood infections are extremely serious and can be life-threatening.
