Advice please - newly pierced ears

[WelshMoth]

DD(10) had her ears recently pierced after lots of nagging on her part. We've followed all advice about cleaning and gently turning them but she's woken this morning and one ear is swollen enough so that the new earring is flush with the lobe. It's a little red, starting to look angry and it's hurting.

I think it's time to take it out, but is it salvageable? the piercing is 10 days old.

Thanks for any advice!

Are the earrings solid gold or silver? I had this when mine were pierced and it was a nickel allergy (they were meant to be surgical steel). My mum removed and replaced with some gold studs. Kept them clean with cotton in boiled water and turned regularly and they settled quickly

Where was it done? You don't really need to be turning them. I'd go to the gp as it may need antibiotics

You're not meant to turn them at all.

Bathe in salt water twice a day and go to a proper piercer (I'm guessing you went to Claires?)

what type of earring op? one with a butterfly lock on the back or?

I would go to the gp for antibiotics however for now I would bathe in salt water

Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing. Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. Use sterile saline or combine 1/4 tsp. of salt with 8 oz. of distilled water. Don't use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments

Good advice here

Dd had one ear that got inflamed after boy pulled it at school. (2months after been pierced) after lots different stuff the pharmacy suggest bethpanten nappy cream as last resort before Dr. It cleaned it up

Dont turn them

And don’t remove without the advice of a proper piercer. If it is infected removing the stud stops it draining.

Also have a look [https://info.painfulpleasures.com/help-center/information-center/ear-piercing-aftercare on this website]] it has a lot of info about howto deal with the piercing.

grrrrr link fail here

DO NOT touch the piercings. Bathe three times a day in boiled salt water. Inflammation and irritation is okay in the first stages of healing. It’s only when you see signs of infection that you need to worry. And the response should NEVER be to take them out! If you do that you risk them healing over with infection inside the body and ending up with an abscess.

Being strict about the cleaning routine and you’ll see an enormous difference straight away.

Based on the fact you’ve been turning them I assume you went to Claire’s. Piercing guns being used on ears damage the ears and are less sterile so you will see more inflammation and swelling than in a needle piercing.

Boil a kettle , put sea salt in a cup and add the water . Let it cool down thill it’s just warm and dip the ear lobe in for a few minutes . Then dab dry on both sides , repeat two to three times a day for at least a few weeks . Good luck

Not read through everything yet but thanks for the responses. Wouldn't touch Clare's - went to a qualified piercer in a good jewellers in my local town.

They're gold with a butterfly earring. Was told to turn them by the piercer - I'll stop that.

Was it a needle or gun piercing?

It was a gun piercing. Going to soak it in salt water solution now.

Yy to pp - if the earring isn't pure gold it may have irritated the skin.ive had this quite recently (though been pierced for 15 years). It was read and had a lump it. Very painful to lay on.

Could you remove them, clean, apply antiseptic cream and given 24-48 hours then put pure gold ones in?

Sorry just seen not to remove and it's gold.
Yes bathe in salt, warm but not hot water.
It might need a look at from a medical professional though.

Be prepared to play the long game. It's been almost 2 years and finally the ears are healed and earrings can be changed!

A “qualified piercer” using a gun in a jewellers is unlikely to be any better than Claire’s tbh. I think the pp above meant an proper piercer as in within a tattoo shop or a body piercer.

Stop turning them. Clean it tonight. Leave it alone. Child must not touch it.

Put ice wrapped in a flannel on the slope to try & reduce the swelling. Bathe 3 times a day with salt water & use Savlon to reduce the soreness.

How were they pierced?

Salt water every time as a first measure but keep an eye on the redness

Gun? That just forces a blunt piece of metal through the ear lobe, the gun cannot be sterilised and becomes contaminated with a microscopic spray of blood. Your DD has likely picked up an infection.

It's about time guns were banned and people read up on piercing methods before the procedure.

Your gp will give you a tube of antiseptic cream.

Thanks everyone. I've soaked the whole lobe in cooled, boiled salt water, for a period of about 5 minutes. Hair is tied back for the night. I'll watch the redness closely but will persevere with the salt bath, continuing early tomorrow morning.

I appreciate everyone's input. Thank you.

Also make sure the back isn't pushed right up against the back of the ear.

It's early days of bathing 3 tines a day but can I say a big thank you - Inflammation is reducing, same with redness and it's loads less sore. Going to persevere with this for the foreseeable.

Thanks everyone