I wonder, do I have an infection in my ear and would I need a GP for antibiotics?

[Longhairf]

I have my ears pierced. I rarely wear earrings though. I still have the holes in my ears. I decided last week to wear earrings. I put them in and left them for a few days. I was away from home. My ears felt tender.

Yesterday morning I woke up to find blood around one of my earrings. I took them out then.

There was gunk all around my earrings. I wiped my ears. I was away from home so I never got a proper chance to clean my ears until I got home.

One of my ears now have a slight stinging pain in my ear lobe. No major pain. I used hot water and cotton pads earlier to wipe my ears.

I am wondering how if I have an infection in my ear lobes and should I be going to the doctor for antibiotics.

I used to get something like this and it was a reaction to the metal in the earrings rather than an infection. I now only ever wear earrings from a hypoallergenic specialist called Solace Jewellery (no I don’t work for them and I’m not on commission!) and they don’t irritate me. I’d just leave earrings out for a few days and see if it gets better. That said, I’m definitely not a doctor so if you’re worried perhaps you’d better get some proper medical advice. Maybe ring 111?

If you rarely wear earrings the holes can start to close up. They would still look like holes from the outside, I suspect that is where the blood came from. I don't wear mine often either and have had the same thing happen. I would clean with cool boiled salt water for a few days and see if it clears up.

Only if it goes pussy would I go to the doctors. Or becomes hot red and angry.

Actually thanks for reminding me. There's many metals I can't wear due to the same thing. I cant wear belts either or the same thing happens around my belly button - I get sore and itchy.

The holes were still very much in my ears. I had no problem putting in my earrings and it didn't hurt.

I will clean my ears for a few days with warm salt water and go to the doctor later in the week if I need to.

You might be able to get antibiotics from certain pharmacies. You could ask your GP surgery which is your nearest to offer this service. Although to be honest an over the counter antiseptic cream might work better.
These pharmacies will issue antibiotics for ear infections (as in actually in the smear) but that’s not what this is.
Otherwise if it hadn’t cleared up in a few days you could book in to see the advanced nurse if your practice has one.

Ear not smear!

Salt water is OK but surgical spirit might be more effective. Grit your teeth though as it might sting! If you don't have any, see if you've got any hand santiser knocking around from the pandemic. That's alcohol based too.

I know when I got my ears pierced centuries ago, it was recommended that you swabbed your ears daily with surgical spirit until they'd healed.

Savlon might do the trick.
Definitely try a pharmacist first before GP