Piercings

[RiftGibbon]

Recently had a piercing and all was well, but in the last 2 days it's become swollen and reddish (bit like a small blister).
It isn't hot to touch, and isn't painful, and, despite my description isn't very swollen, just not flat and even skin tone.
I've been bathing with saline solution as advised.
Should I put a bit of germoline/savlon on?

As its facial, I can't moisturise or sunblock up to..the exact spot, although it is possible I've inadvertently got a bit on it.
I've also been bitten whilst in the garden and had a bad reaction to the bites so wondering if it's just my immune system on overdrive a bit.

Any advice?

I can't take it out (that's a salon job), and am going on holiday in the morning.

Saline spray, magic stuff, it might have got a bit irritated if you're using cotton buds/wool to clean it so switch to the spray and it should settle down.

Thanks. Will any saline spray work? The salon recommended a particular one but were out of stock. I can grab similar from local shops today.
I've been using kitchen roll to clean as it doesn't shed fibres.

Clean with saline twice a day, and a chamomile teabag soaked in hot water held against it for 5 minutes twice a day. Other than that, leave it alone completely.

Do not put germolene/savlon/tea tree oil etc they will make things worse. They block the blood/lymph/dead cells etc from exiting the wound.

You should simply be using a sterile saline solution twice daily (or as instructed in the aftercare notes from your piercer) with very very very clean hands. There is no need to use kitchen towel/cotton buds etc. just lots and lots of saline to wash out the wound. Wiping around the piercing will simply disturb it and increase the risk of infection as will touching/twisting it.

Go see your piercer toddy, if they are a decent piercer they'll get you in and advise you. This is especially important as you're on holiday from tomorrow (especially if abroad as sun creams, sand, pool water etc may all irritate the piercing further).

I'm not going abroad, and don't swim.
I can't get to the salon today, but can keep up the saline. Thing is, how do I get it on my face without a bit of kitchen towel? Spray/squirt/drip?
It's looking a bit less red today.

Will avoid creams on the spot. I can sunblock around it and wear a hat to keep the sun off.

once you've done the saline, dry the site with a hairdryer on cool.

@RiftGibbon - just squirt it at the piercing (lots more than you think). Yes it's messy and will drop, but if lay on your side it'll be a bit easier.

Is it your nose? If so make sure to clean from the inside as well - just aim the saline solution up inside the nostril. It will dribble but it does help.

Is it a nose piercing op? I ask because mine went like this at first with the red bump you describe.

Recurren Plus. It's made of magic!
I had the bump youre talking about and used this twice a day. Cleared it up in less than a week. It really is fantastic. Can get it in Amazon.

Prontolind spray worked wonders on dc's ear piercing when it went manky. The piercer bloke used some when he replaced the earring and cleaned it up; he said it was like magic so I bought some and it healed within a week.

Thanks all - yes, a nose piercing. It's subsided a fair bit during the day today. I'm cleaning inside too but hayfever (despite antihistamines) doesn't always help.
I've made up some very fresh saline for now which has knocked back the redness - I think the solution I had made previously was a bit too salty.

I'll check out the sprays mentioned - should be able to get one in the next day or so.

Is it a ring op? I had mine pierced with a ring, it just wouldn't heal, had the bump you describe. I switched to a stud, within a day it had healed and then I put a new ring in a week or so later, it was fine ever since

Be careful making your own solution. As you've mentioned it can sometimes be too salty which causes more problems. I like the saline solution sterile wipes.

No not a ring, it's a stud. Looks as though the oversalted solution was the issue. I've triple checked quantities now and I'll buy a bottle of proper stuff tomorrow.
It's calmed down a lot during the day today.
I'm being careful not to touch or rotate the stud, just to keep it all clean.

Thanks for all the advice & help.

Was it done with a gun?

Done with a needle. Wouldn't have it done any other way.

Phew. With you saying salon I thought you might have gone to a hairdressers.

Nose piercings are very good at forming granuloma lumps, even more so with guns, which is why I asked. Hopefully though if that’s gone down then it was just a bit irritated as you suspected.
id adopt the LITHA approach now, don’t turn it etc, wash around it carefully and apply the spray. Hopefully it will heal ok.