Any body piercers about?

[opalescent]

Hoping for a bit of advice. I had a cartilage (flat piercing ten days ago. Done by a fabulous local piercer, with a needle, titanium labret.
It was absolutely fine the first few days, I barely noticed it was there, which was fab, as my previous helix piercing was a bugger from day one!

The last two nights though, that ear has really swelled, become red and incredibly tender 😩. There's no discharge. In terms of aftercare, I've basically left it well alone, as per the piercers advice.

I popped back there yesterday and she reassured me that it looks ok, gave it a clean, and changed it for a slightly longer bar to allow for further swelling.

It felt much better initially, but has become hard, tender and bothersome again overnight. Why would it be doing this if not infected? You can literally see from looking at me square on, that one ear is much bigger and sticking out more!

Thank you 😊

Is the area hot? Do you think it's infected rather than just trauma? Is it an area that gets limited blood (ear) as infections can be more likely as less blood supply (I'm not a piercer by the way)

It does sound infected.
This is just what happened to me and of course not all piercers are like this but, my tragus piercing became painful, swollen, hot and I couldn't remove it myself, just too tight. So I went back to the piercer who said it was fine and removing it would trap any infection in there...
Ended up in A&E having it cut out then the inside of my ear stitched up as it had become so swollen the doctor had to cut my ear to get it out. Then 5 days as an in patient on IV antibiotics.
So just keep an eye on it!

@orio 😱 oh god that sounds awful....

I wouldn't say it's hot, but it's VERY red and tender

If it's so swollen you can see it side on that does sound infected? I completely understand you probably don't want to remove it but you may have no choice.
Cartridge piercings are so tricky!

...cartilage

Are you able to lean it into some warm sea salt water to soak it?

Honestly @orio I would definitely remove it if directed to do so, I don't want to jump the gun as it only started playing up on Tuesday evening, but I will have no hesitation to get rid if it carries on!
@Sunshineandrainbow I specifically asked the piercer I saw yesterday about cleaning it, but they advocate a total hands off policy regarding cleaning (just running under the water while showering, and drying the area with a hair dryer afterwards). They are a very reputable place.

When I had my rook pierced it took forever for it to feel better, and when I went to the piercer for advice she recommended an aspirin paste.
Crush half an aspirin and make a thick paste with it, and put it on overnight. It's a bit messy. I did it for a week, but it literally felt better after the first night. Might be worth a try?

@LadyShrek2k19 ooh that sounds like something I could try! Thank you 😊

You need to clean it with salt water twice a day. My dd and dh have numerous piercings including the one you have and have had them done at a very reputable place (Factotum in Norwich, the piercer there is well known as being “the” one to go to and has been on many, many courses). I’m really shocked where you’ve been have advised to just leave it….!! It does sound like it’s got infected in which case it may need to come out - but I think you need advice on that as sometimes they say you need to leave the piercing in place for it to drain. You may need antibiotics.

If a piercing is infected you're much better to get it reviewed by a doctor who can prescribe a course of antibiotics than just remove the jewellery.

www.ollytoddpiercing.co.uk/aftercare

Reading through this interestingly he’s now saying not to use salt and water but he’s always done so before- I think he says because people commonly put too much salt in the solution. Anyway this might be of help.

@Bagelsandbrie I was surprised too, tbh! I do find that advice from piercers seems to vary hugely though. I think I'll see how it goes over the next 24hours and see my doctor if it's not improving or getting worse. I have been really unwell since getting it done- a nasty virus (not covid, according to PCR!). I do wonder if that's affected early healing.

Steep a camomile teabag in boiling water, allow to cool to a bearable temp, then hold the bag on the swelling for a few minutes a day. Really took down the swelling when I had my helix done.

@Mabelface was your whole upper ear red and tender to touch? Thank you 😊

It was indeed!

Ok, I had a smear this morning, so took the opportunity to ask my practice nurse about the ear 😂. She doesn't feel it's infected at the moment, as the swelling is not localised to the piercing, and there's no pus/discharge. She thinks it's safe to keep going and cleans with proper piercing saline three times a day.

Fingers crossed!!!

I no longer use salty water on my piercings. A spray wound wash is far better.

Oooh what sort of thing @AnxiousHeffalump? Can I get it on Amazon?

@AnxiousHeffalump

I no longer use salty water on my piercings. A spray wound wash is far better.

I second this. The problem with homemade solutions is getting the ratio right, and too much salt can dry out/irritate the area.

You should be able to buy it on Amazon or from body jewellery sites (I use Stretch It Body Jewellery, they're great).

I wash my piercing with saline solution bought from the chemist for contact lenses - making it myself never works. For wound wash, I use this from Boots.

I have two flat piercings and a conch. I use Prontolind spray from Amazon. Amazing reviews and it clears any issues very quickly.

My flats have been done for about 8months and are healing nicely now. My conch throws many tantrums all the time. Sigh.

You absolutely cannot get away with just using water! I mean, I left it alone for a couple of days but you can't not clean it properly, especially when hair is so nearby.

The piercer I worked with would put manuka honey on infected piercings. No idea how effective it actually is but she swore by it.