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Original poster

Ear piercing not healing well, what am I doing wrong?

44 replies

unlikelychump · 07/10/2024 20:36

My DD had her ears pierced 6 weeks ago. They are not seeming to heal very well. Quite pussy and bleeding still. We have been cleaning them and did so very well for the first 4 weeks. We swopped from gold to silver about 2 weeks ago as the gold seemed to embed into her ear!

Any tips or is this quite usual?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 07/10/2024 20:39

I had exactly the same problem when dd first had her ears pierced. We persevered for months and then gave up and took them out. She had them done again a few years later and they healed quickly with no pus at all, no bleeding and no discomfort.

dementedpixie · 07/10/2024 20:40

Were they done with a gun or needle?
What were you cleaning them with and were you leaving them in peace and not turning them? Might need to use something like titanium rather than silver.

NotEnoughRoom · 07/10/2024 20:41

You could try switching to titanium or surgical steel? Also, if they are still swelling up then make sure the post is slightly longer so there is room for that.

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Ponderingwindow · 07/10/2024 20:43

You need to take her back to the piercer. Dd just had her ears done and those are symptoms they told us to call and they will make an appointment to be seen asap.

RaiseYourSkinnyFists · 07/10/2024 20:46

I had this when my ears were pierced but they finally healed when I switched to silver. They were horrific when I had gold in. It was so painful. I agree with PP about trying titanium with a longer bar instead. It's probably an allergy, especially if both ears are the same.

You could try giving some antihistamines for now to see if that eases it.

Also, don't go too mad with cleaning them. It's important to keep them clean but you don't want to agitate them too much.

mindutopia · 07/10/2024 20:47

You should be using surgical steel, not gold or silver. Keep cleaning them with proper piercing spray. Unfortunately, unless you get them done properly, it’s very easy to get bad advice on aftercare.

2921j2 · 07/10/2024 20:48

It can take a long time. My dd’s took over a year to be completely settled and closed. Needle piercing at 14yo, proper aftercare, titanium rods with balls and enough gap for swelling.

keep them clean and be prepared for a bloody long wait!

TheCompactPussycat · 07/10/2024 20:48

DD's took over a year to heal, despite following the care procedures to the letter (and having them done with a needle). Some piercings just take a long time to heal. Be patient. 6 weeks is no time at all.

We swapped to titanium after six months with much longer posts. If they are swollen/pussy/bleeding, go back to the piercer to check whether they are infected.

CabbagesAndCeilingWax · 07/10/2024 20:48

I was very allergic to silver earrings. I think pure gold was OK for me, and maybe titanium, but basically, I persevered through almost a year of cycles of almost healing and then not healing, and I finally gave up. I don't think piercings work well for everyone 🤷‍♀️

GoodVibesHere · 07/10/2024 20:50

Piercing parlours often say it takes six weeks but in reality it can take much, much longer. Pus or sticky discharge and crusting is very normal and can go on for months (unfortunately). You only really need to be concerned if there is redness, swelling, throbbing, extremely painful to touch because then it's obviously infected.

You have to persevere with cleaning (a sterile piercing spray is good) and be really patient, try not to knock the ears and be careful e.g. when taking jumpers on and off.

It is good to do a salt soak a couple of times per week. Boil the kettle, let it cool and pour into a small cup, add half teaspoon of salt, tilt the head to soak the ear for 5 mins. The water should be not too salty, about the same saltiness as when you cry tears.

Honestly my piercings have always taken loads longer than 6 weeks, more like 6 months at least and the same for my DD too.

OfDragonsDeep · 07/10/2024 20:53

She needs implant grade titanium flat back labrets, ideally changed by a professional piercer (not Claire’s or the like)

If there is any sign of an infection go to the GP

She should only be cleaning them with Saline spray once a day (Neilmed) and warm water, no touching or twisting them.

Edited to add make sure they are properly dry after washing (no cotton buds/pads)

Original poster
unlikelychump · 07/10/2024 21:16

Helpful tips thanks!

I think they are not really infected, they have long stems, are not red or swollen. And are only sore when extensively fiddled with. (Back came off after pe for eg). Just gross and pussy. Glad this is in the realms of normal. I have put some germoline on today. I'll make sure they are dryer, and maybe try a spray.

OP posts:
Cas112 · 07/10/2024 21:19

I have loads of ear piercings in my ears always looked after them well, I got a new one and it just wouldn't heal no matter looking after them exactly how I looked after the others, it ended up causing a serious infection and I had to have it removed and I was told by GP that sometimes on the odd occasion they just don't take OP

Gymmum82 · 07/10/2024 21:33

DDs took almost a year to heal. In reality they are never going to heal in 6 weeks. I’ve had over 30 piercings myself and all of them took about that amount of time to properly settle and heal

Puppupandaway · 07/10/2024 21:37

Sudacrem works well on ears which are weeping lots of pus. We had to give up in the end with my dd as she was getting very moist ears which were red and sore every few months. Sudacrem always cleared them up within a week, until the next time.

Stars15 · 07/10/2024 21:45

My DD had hers done in the second week of summer holidays and are completely healed now. Hers were pierced by a needle rather than gun. I’ve heard that a gun can take a bit longer to heal. We used a saline spray on them that the piercer recommended and made sure they were very dry afterwards (the piercer said they must be kept as dry as possible).
Finally, hers were pierced with titanium earrings with flat backs and all the earrings we have bought for her have been surgical steel or titanium (other than the see through plastic retainer posts she wears at school). She has eczema so we have avoided all silver or gold as it’s likely she will be sensitive to the nickel content. We were told not to turn the jewellery or fiddle too much with them.

YorkshireGoddess · 07/10/2024 21:47

If you make a salt solution it needs to be sea salt not table salt.

I swear by a warm (pure) camomile tea bag compress to help with piercing healing.

SallyWD · 07/10/2024 22:01

It was the same for my DD. I actually think it took about 3 months in the end. We kept washing them with salt water and eventually they healed. It took much longer than I expected!

fashionqueen0123 · 07/10/2024 22:05

unlikelychump · 07/10/2024 21:16

Helpful tips thanks!

I think they are not really infected, they have long stems, are not red or swollen. And are only sore when extensively fiddled with. (Back came off after pe for eg). Just gross and pussy. Glad this is in the realms of normal. I have put some germoline on today. I'll make sure they are dryer, and maybe try a spray.

What did they tell you to clean with before? They should have given you a spray like nielmed. Don’t touch or fiddle with earrings. Don’t go to sleep with wet hair. Avoid swimming too.
They should really have used titanium too.
Might be worth getting some or sticking to the gold now.

Jifmicroliquid · 07/10/2024 22:05

Try titanium earrings. If I get a stubborn one that kicks off, I swap to titanium and the problem goes (I’ve got 4 holes in one ear and 3 in the other)

purpleme12 · 07/10/2024 22:08

Stars15 · 07/10/2024 21:45

My DD had hers done in the second week of summer holidays and are completely healed now. Hers were pierced by a needle rather than gun. I’ve heard that a gun can take a bit longer to heal. We used a saline spray on them that the piercer recommended and made sure they were very dry afterwards (the piercer said they must be kept as dry as possible).
Finally, hers were pierced with titanium earrings with flat backs and all the earrings we have bought for her have been surgical steel or titanium (other than the see through plastic retainer posts she wears at school). She has eczema so we have avoided all silver or gold as it’s likely she will be sensitive to the nickel content. We were told not to turn the jewellery or fiddle too much with them.

Do you have a link to the ones she wears at school?
I knew there were some ones some people had mentioned on here.

Original poster
unlikelychump · 07/10/2024 22:10

This is great thanks! She does have eczema so I might try the titanium.

We did have a solution to use but it is finished now.

We. Haven't focused on keeping them dry.

Do you remove the earrings to clean at this stage or keep them in all the time?

OP posts:
ahemfem · 07/10/2024 22:10

In all honesty I'd take her to the gp.

crazycatladie · 07/10/2024 22:12

The solution didn't work for my daughter so changed to cooled boiled salt water.

RaiseYourSkinnyFists · 07/10/2024 22:13

unlikelychump · 07/10/2024 22:10

This is great thanks! She does have eczema so I might try the titanium.

We did have a solution to use but it is finished now.

We. Haven't focused on keeping them dry.

Do you remove the earrings to clean at this stage or keep them in all the time?

Keep them in all the time. Taking them in and out will aggravate them and potentially introduce infection. She can take them out once they're completely healed and the piercing is established.

Apart from swapping to titanium flat backs, don't take them out for at least a couple of months.