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Original poster

Ear piercing infected?

21 replies

OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 14:30

My daughter had her ear pieced just under 5 weeks ago and a bit that just looked like dry skin appeared next to one of them about a week or so ago. It didn't appear to be in the hole as such and no pus.

However she's diligently soaked in saltwater but now it looks like a raw patch and red.

What do we do? She's carefully soaking it but it doesn't look any better.

Do we go back to the peircer/the gp?

Do we need to or can we self treat and if so what do we do?

She's 11 and very worried she's going to have to take it out.

OP posts:
Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 14:35

I'm not even sure it is an infection as no pus or fever and she's as full of beans as usual.

But the skin next to it is looking more raw and unhappy!

OP posts:
CuriousPorg · 27/08/2023 14:39

What metal is it?

nipersvest · 27/08/2023 14:41

I had a cartlidge piercing that just wouldn't heal, tried all the usual tricks, in the end I got a small travel spray bottle, filled it with diluted TCP and sprayed the ear 2-3 times a day, cleared all the issues up and have had no trouble with it since, this is after over a year of it continually flaring up.

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Lellochip · 27/08/2023 14:48

How is she mixing up the salt water? Could be that it's too strong and drying out her skin. If it's not warm or puss-y I wouldn't immediately think infection but irritation, due to the salt, or maybe the metal.

Bunnyannesummers · 27/08/2023 14:53

Give it a couple of days off the saltwater in case she’s overdoing it with the cleaning and irritating her skin. Then get a proper saline spray from Amazon for piercings and drop it to once a day, see how you go

Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 14:55

OK just went to look at their website. They're a proper piercing place and it's "surgical grade titanium" so I'd think it's unlikely to be that isn't it?! She'll be so upset if she just can't wear earrings at all. How would I know? The other ears okay - would it be both if she's allergic?

I wonder about the salt water being too strong maybe? But again it's odd it's one.

Its gone from dry looking skin to now looking very raw but she did up the cleaning. I can try get a photo.

I see the piercing place is open Monday so I could ring them.

But yes I don't want to leap to infection if it isn't but I'd love to clear it up!

OP posts:
Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 14:56

Oh it's also a bar with a ball both ends -so it's not a trapped butterfly or anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 15:01

We've used sea salt and diluted it but I do wonder if maybe its irritated her. I don't want to stop cleansing it though in case that doesn't help!

OP posts:
SweetAndSourChick3n · 27/08/2023 15:05

Order some saline spray from Amazon, possibly the salt solution you're making is drying out her skin. The NeilMed piercing spray is easy to use.

Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 15:19

Yes just on it with amazon. Was a bit worried I wouldn't know which brand was reliable (sooo much fake stuff on amazon) so will go get that one!

Shall I give her ear a break from it to dry up a bit?

OP posts:
Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 15:23

Here's a photo if anyone is good at this kind of thing?

OP posts:
Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 15:23

Ordered mist and coming Tuesday.

OP posts:
SweetAndSourChick3n · 27/08/2023 15:25

That doesn't look infected to me. Give it a break from cleaning for a couple of days.

Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 15:37

Thanks - really appreciate it . As it's Sunday I've got myself anxious about it when I can't ask anyone!

OP posts:
BeMoreBarbie · 27/08/2023 15:58

That's how my ear goes if I wear a metal that doesn't suit me and overplay when it's itchy. Can you change the metal?

I'd agree it doesn't look infected.

Original poster
OnionBhajis · 27/08/2023 16:01

It's titanium. Is there a metal less allergenic?

It's not quite 6 weeks yet so am nervous of changing it early. The piercing place said they'd do the first change if we wanted them to.

OP posts:
Allmarbleslost · 27/08/2023 16:06

I would take her back to the piercing place and ask them to look at it. They'll soon tell
you whether it needs medical attention.

BeMoreBarbie · 27/08/2023 16:09

I believe titanium is meant to be the least reactive so you chose the right thing but my daughter did have issues.

I can't remember what we replaced it with but it was either silver 925 or solid gold which helped. 5 weeks is OK to carefully change but if you're not comfortable just make sure it doesn't get worse.

Xx1d1xX · 27/08/2023 16:20

Olive Oil should help heal the skin and is very gentle
so won't aggravate any further. I have used this following the advice of my health visitor since my daughter was a baby (she's now 12) for any skin aggravation or sores and it's always worked. She also had an ear piercing that became irritated like that a few months after piercing and the olive oil cleared it up within a day or two. Pour olive oil onto cotton wool or tip and just cover it with it. Random but so useful. Good Luck

Mykittensmittens · 27/08/2023 16:24

Use the spray recommended (which I think you’ve ordered and try not to touch, get hair wrapped round it, or soap or shampoo - basically leave it for a couple of days. It does look like irritation to me. But I too would guess the regime and not the metal.

it doesn’t look weepy or wet which is good! The spray is very good. It helped heal a piercing I had which was 3 months in and stubborn as anything!

CuriousPorg · 27/08/2023 19:30

Don't use olive oil, it gives my DC almost chemical burns if they get it on their skin and it'll build up in the hole and congeal.

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