Help - any piercing experts out there!

[helpyhelperton]

Had tragus pierced on Monday. Blooming hurt and sore for a bit but not swollen too much.

Wore my air pods yesterday and I think it was too much activity near the area. Woke up this morning very swollen and almost embedded.

Tried to loosen the stud but inevitably completely came out....couldn't get back in all the way because of the swelling.

I have cleaned it and put a solid silver stud which has a long stem. Can't put a back in.

What should I do! Piercer obv closed today. I feel like I should have left it and just cold compressed it but I thought loosening would help (not taking it entirely!!!)

Thank you 🙏

Ouch! I think you did the right thing - I’ll ask my piercer but I doubt they’ll be awake yet.

Not an expert but do have a tragus piercing.

I'd just keep what you are doing until you can see the piercer tomorrow. They should be able to give a longer post to put in the piercing. The swelling may reside a bit today but you don't want to mess around with it too much as you'll increase risk of infection while the piercing heals. I wouldn't use ice either as that could also increase infection risk.

This. Maybe a dab of boiled salt water. I had to ditch the earpod in one ear for a long time but it's all good now.

Thank you for all the replies - it's so sore but I think the swelling has gone down a bit.

I hope I did the right thing taking it out....I only wanted to loosen it but I did feel very relieved when it actually came out....

It's swollen again and so painful - I've taken ibuprofen and it's gone down a bit from that. Will go to the piercer tomorrow but I am a bit embarrassed - I shouldn't have taken it out.....

What sort of earring is it? What sort of back is on it? Do you have any healing sprays for it?

The piercing was done with a very short labret. The Jewel at the front is the 'back'. I twisted it a bit to loosen but it came off and I couldn't get back in because the tragus so swollen.

I've replaced it with a sterling silver stud (sterilised) and no back to allow for the swelling.

I have a post pericing spray that I have been using.

Mine swelled a lot a few days after getting it pierced, wasn't painful but the earring got swallowed up and the swelling spread down to my chin.
Once I'd swapped to a longer post it started to heal properly, the shorter one didn't give enough room for the swelling.
It did take a while to heal completely as cartilage piercings do but all good in the end.

Try and leave it alone as much as possible until you see your piercer, but keep an eye out for any infection. I got told off by a nurse for taking too long to get an infected ear piercing looked at. She said the ear is a dangerous place to get infected due to it being so close to your brain. Not trying to scare you, I just didn’t know, and I’m usually someone who has to have a limb hanging off before going to A&E.

Sound like it should have had a labret with a longer post to allow for swelling. It'll be easier for a piercer to replace it for you. Maybe try a warm compress

I've attempted a tragus piercing and, twice, helix piercings and had exactly the same thing happen. I ended up taking them out and giving up as it was just too sore to persevere. Boiled, cooled salt water on a cotton wool pad to soak it is good, then an ice pack (or peas) wrapped in a towel to hold on it really helps with the swelling and pain.

I've got 3 piercings in each lobe, which have never been a problem, but cartilage piercings just don't seem to take on me for some reason. Always fancied a nose piercing, but suspect I'd end up looking like Rudolph 🤣

Use boiled water with added salt to clean it and I find a dab of sudocreme really helps when any of my piercings have gone funny! But basically you do need to go back to the piercer when you can to see what they say/what they can do about it because they'll need to replace the initial piercing post.