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Original poster

Use wire cutters on niece's ear piercing?

93 replies

justwanttoweeinpeace · 31/12/2016 15:30

Niece had a clip ear piercing done a few weeks ago. It's one of those ones that supposedly can't be removed by anyone other than a professional.

It's starting to turn nasty and she wants it removing, but with the holidays coming up there's nowhere to get it done.

WWBU just to chop the ring with wire cutters and remove it that way?

OP posts:
Wookiecookies · 31/12/2016 15:32

No!!!! You could introduce a worse infection. Take her to the gp.

Original poster
justwanttoweeinpeace · 31/12/2016 15:32

Sorry, forgot the important bit;

Has anyone done this? Was it all okay?

OP posts:
DailyFail1 · 31/12/2016 15:34

Go to urgent care and get it removed. I do ear piercings but the clip on ones are nasty.

HeyRoly · 31/12/2016 15:34

What do you mean, a clip ear piercing? I don't understand what that is. I'm not familiar with any piercing jewellery that can only be removed by a professional.

JennyOnAPlate · 31/12/2016 15:36

No don't remove it yourself. Wait a couple of days and go back to the place where she had it done, or if it can't wait see an out of hours doctor.

IWantATardis · 31/12/2016 15:36

A&E or a minor injuries unit might be able to get it cut off safely?

Pollyanna9 · 31/12/2016 15:37

No no no - you NEVER remove the piercing! The hole can close trapping the infection inside!

DD has had several infections in her helix ear piercing - GP advised taking it out (we ignored him), piercers will tell you not to take it out. Get antibiotics asap and it will sort itself out.

literallytotally · 31/12/2016 15:37

If they are the ones that are a continuous loop? Or have the little balls on the end?

If first you need to stretch the circle and the link will drop out.

If they have the balls then thy unscrew.

DurhamDurham · 31/12/2016 15:38

This happened to our daughter a few years back and we had to take her to a&we, they removed it safely.

Soubriquet · 31/12/2016 15:39

I've never heard of these

Clip ons that can only be removed by professionals? What's the point in that?

Don't do it yourself though. It could make things a lot worse. Seek professional help

HeyRoly · 31/12/2016 15:39

Also, even if it's turning nasty it can still be treated. I know the accepted advice is to bathe with saline and wash with soap and water in the shower (and in fact I would continue to do that) but I remember using surgical spirit on my ear piercings back in the 90s, and used it again on a cartilage piercing that went a bit gunky a couple of years ago. Sometimes you just need to ramp up the cleaning solution to something a little more powerful.

NoArmaniNoPunani · 31/12/2016 15:39

Can you photograph it? I'm not familiar with any piercings that can only be removed by a professional

Original poster
justwanttoweeinpeace · 31/12/2016 15:39

I know. Apparently instead of piercing the body part and putting in a ring, they just use the ring to create the hole, but of course you can't take it out to clean the hole. And of course now it's infected.

She had antibiotics for it from the walk in gp she went to see yesterday.

I'll stick her in a cab and send her to the minor injuries centre. Don't see why her silly behaviour should mess up our new year, hopefully the nurse will give her a talking to, she doesn't listen to her parents.

OP posts:
HeyRoly · 31/12/2016 15:41

Oh, you're talking about a ball closure ring?

You can remove those yourself easily. The balls have a little dimple on each side that clicks into the ring. You can pop them out by applying a little pressure - or you can pull the ends of the ring apart like literally said, but I find that difficult.

showmeislands · 31/12/2016 15:41

What's a clip ear piercing? If it's a BCR you could remove it easily using pliers that stretch open the ring and the ball/link comes out. But if it's infected better to stay in and keep it clean - saline etc.

HeyRoly · 31/12/2016 15:44

I know. Apparently instead of piercing the body part and putting in a ring, they just use the ring to create the hole, but of course you can't take it out to clean the hole. And of course now it's infected.

None of that makes sense. No piercer creates the hole with the jewellery itself! I'm guessing she went to a proper piercer, who first used a needle and then inserted the ring?

And you aren't supposed to take the ring out to clean a new piercing, because you would never be able to get it back in (and it would be agony if you tried). So don't blame the ring on the infection. It's either crappy jewellery (steel isn't recommended for new piercings, titanium is better) or inadequate cleaning I'm afraid.

icanteven · 31/12/2016 15:45

If she has antibiotics she needs to take them, keep it clean and stop kicking up a fuss. She doesn't need to use NHS resources at the busiest time of year to take out a piece of jewellery.

An infected piercing is a nuisance, but if she still wants it to be removed when the infection has cleared up, she can go back to the piercer to have it taken out when they reopen on Tuesday. She's not going to lose the ear in the meantime.

dementedpixie · 31/12/2016 15:45

Can you not just wait for the antibiotics to work. You aren't supposed to remove earrings to clean the hole anyway

OurBlanche · 31/12/2016 15:47

I'll stick her in a cab and send her to the minor injuries centre. Don't see why her silly behaviour should mess up our new year, hopefully the nurse will give her a talking to, she doesn't listen to her parents.

Woah! It just needs time, antib's and washing in saline. It will be fine.

As her aunt you really don't get to make that decision. How old is she? You say send her so I would assume a mid to late teen. What do her parents say? They are the ones who should be making that decision!

haveacupoftea · 31/12/2016 15:50

Urgent care for a mildly infected piercing Hmm wash it with savlon or TCP and she can keep it in as a reminder of why it was a stupid idea, until she can get someone appropriate to take it out - you're talking 2 days here.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 31/12/2016 15:52

Use some TCP!

TalkinPeace · 31/12/2016 15:58

Cos like the NHS has loads of spare resources in A&E for idiots who cannot use TCP
Biscuit

Soubriquet · 31/12/2016 15:58

If she has antibiotics why more help?!

Give the AB's a chance to work

DJBaggySmalls · 31/12/2016 16:02

DONT remove the piercing. the hole has to be kept open until the infection is cleared up.
Wash it with salt water twice a day and let the antibiotics work.

Infection is not caused by a pro piercer, but by not keeping your hair clean, using a dirty pillowcase, touching the piercing and not cleaning it properly twice a day.

EveOnline2016 · 31/12/2016 16:03

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Body-piercing/Pages/Self-help.aspx

Don't go to a&e as it's better to leave it in and let the antibiotic work.

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