Rusty earring butterfly .... sore ear help!

[Ilmb]

I lost a butterfly about a week or 2 ago and put in one from a ‘costume jewellery’ earring temporarily and forgot to order some new ones. Yesterday I noticed the ear lobe was a bit sore, took the butterfly off and it was all rusty... kept earring out and put tea tree oil on it. Today the back of my lobe is sore and a bit oozy.... again have put tea tree oil on it and kept earring out. Now I’m all paranoid about tetanus!!! Should I be worried or just keep putting tea tree oil on to help it heal?! Can’t get hold of any surgical spirit today, that would’ve been my first port of call instead of tea tree, I though it was the next best thing...

I wouldn't use tea tree oil tbh. Cool boiled water with salt dissolved in it might be better and more gentle

I agree, cooled boiled salted water to clean it. Try to not fiddle with it either.

Ok I’ll try that. What about germolene? Without wanting to sound stupid, do I need to worry about tetanus?

Just popping on to add to the chorus of cooled boiled water with salt! It has sorted out all my piercing related intolerances. I wouldn't have thought you'd need too worry about tetanus, unless you got the earring out of the soil?! You could always ask pharmacist or gp if it doesn't get better in a few days. I once got a lump over a new belly button piercing and needed antibiotics. Hope your ear feels better soon!