Any GPs/nurses around?! Panicking!

[Darkautumn]

Hi, so I had the top of my ear pierced (cartilage) 3 weeks ago.. The first couple of weeks afterwards were fine and I've been keeping it clean with sea salt water as advised.
However, the last few days it's been throbbing and burning/itchy.

Last night I asked my husband to take a closer look before cleaning it.
He was horrified to see it was leaking pus, swollen and said the edges were closing up around the piercing.

I asked him to just take it out and clean it up, as it was so painful.
He removed the piercing and we cleaned it up with plenty of warm water.
The pain vanished straight away, it was such a relief.

Now I'm reading online that actually you SHOULDN'T remove an infected piercing, due to the wound closing and trapping bacteria inside?

I'm a bit scared now that I did the wrong thing. There's horror stories online about blood poisoning

I've just had a look at it this morning and it looks a lot better. The swelling has gone down a lot, although there's still some dried pus around the edges.

What do I do?

I would say go to your local pharmacist and see if they recommend anything otc, if not it's a gp visit

It sounds infected to me. Get it checked by a doctor.

Nurse here. If it's hot swollen and leaking pus you need antibiotics I'm afraid. Best let your go take a look asap. Do you have any fever or feeling unwell?

You did the right thing taking it out. Keep cleaning the ear. I’m not sure if it’s over the counter but chloramphenicol ointment is good (it’s usually for eyes but you can apply it to the ear).

Personally I would slather it with antiseptic cream and see how it goes. Not every infection needs antibiotics and due to an allergy I tend to be careful how often I have them.

Thanks for the replies.. This morning it's fine. Not hot to the touch, and the swelling has gone down a lot?

Listen to your body. If the pain is better, you feel better and well in yourself then you're healing and fine. If you start to feel unwell or the piercing site is getting worse then see your pharmacist or GP.

Do you have other piercings? My body just rejects them and reacts like an allergy almost - as soon as they’re out, they are fine. I’d see how it goes today, but if you feel unwell, temperature etc then get seen quickly.

Thanks, all is good so far, I just worried myself when I read online that you shouldn't remove an infected piercing..

It sounds like your body has rejected the piercing. Put antiseptic cream on until it starts to close up and isn't an open gap anymore

If it was me, and it seemed so much better, I would leave it and keep an eye on it (nurse/own ear/other advice is available etc disclaimer).

Hi it's been a couple of days now, so far so good.. There is a swelling where the piercing used to be and DH wants to burst it with a clean sterilised needle... Is this a really bad idea??

Top of the ear is awful for piercings (I’ve had pretty much everything apart from rude bits pierced). I had to take them out of the tops of my ears because they just stayed sore even weeks after piercing. If it’s not hurting and it’s not weeping that’s a great sign. Be aware cartilage piercings can heal with funny lumpy bits sometimes (don’t google!!) so it may never go back to looking how it used to.

Was it pierced with a gun or a needle? A gun causes damage to the cartilage.
The problem with removing a piercing is the risk of trapping the infection inside because the holes close over, which sound like what you're dealing with. Can you go back to the piercer for advice?

Don't burst it, you could make it worse. You may well need antibiotics because the infection is trapped.

Don't worry op. I had a lobe piercing that became infected, got antibiotics and I left it in - had read the same advice. After a few days, it was driving me mad and I took it out. No issues since. Felt better the moment it was gone.