Infected piercing- help!

[Georgiemcgeorgeface]

My DCs ear piercing is infected. We're about 10 week post piecing and changed from the hypo allergenic stud to solid gold hoop after Christmas. Since then it's oozed a bit. Twice daily bathing in saline. Developed lump at back. Went to GP and was prescribed antibiotics. DC will not take them for love nor money (nor threats) has never been good at taking medicine. Believe me I've tried everything. DC is 12.
Any ideas of what else we can try before I force the antibiotics?
Any success stories of piercing infections clearing up with natural remedies?
I'm at my wits end with it!

That sounds more like a piercbump than an infection. Did the doctor say it absolutely was an infection or were the ABs just as a precaution?

I wonder if the issue is the hoops are causing reaction.

Put the studs back in. Keep it up with the saline but VERY gently, the bump is caused be too much movement.

Clean pillowcases and towels daily, and keep hair tied up well away from it.

If it doesn’t get better, go to see a proper piercer and get an opinion. (Not someone at Claires)

saline solution?

Thanks I've never heard of a pierce bump I'll google it. Dr didn't say but it's clear liquid/ blood coming out of the bump not puss. We did get pierced at a proper place so I could
go ask for advice thanks

sorry, that is what you are doing.
can she get antibiotic cream instead of tablets?

I did ask the Dr for a topical solution but they prescribed medicine so I assume that topical wouldn't have done the job

Do they still make TCP?

When I was a kid if our ears got infected they'd be wiped with TCP, earrings submerged in it
Always seemed to do the trick

Also, they can get infected if they are not "turned" regularly but you need to have very clean hands

@Zwischenwasser it does sound like a bump! I'll change back to titanium stud and use saline compress and see if that helps - thank you

@Bumblebee39 my thoughts were tcp or witch hazel etc that suited us as kids too! Google says no ha but I might get some!

Just leave it alone. A healthy young body should be able to deal with a minor infection without too much trouble. Very surprised you were given antibiotics, to be honest.
Keep an eye and if there are obvious signs of significant worsening - much more inflamed or spreading then you have antibiotics to take.

@CherryPavlova those were my thoughts too. But we've been largely leaving it alone for 10 weeks and puss is still coming out and it is sore. I'm not keen on administrating ABs but I want it to heal

Get her liquid antibiotics if she won't take tablets
Dd has this and antibiotics cleared it up in five e days

Also, try titanium hoops. A good piercing shop should have them

With my daughter piercing the titanium is in all the time apart from if she is going out and then changes them before putting them back

@newyeardontcare we did get liquid and now I think I'd have had a better chance with tablets. Arghhh

New piercings should not be rotated, this is very outdated advice and causes more harm.

@Jbck I think that's where we've gone wrong

She needs to take the meds. If she's old enough to get piercings she's old enough to take medication.

TCP is outdated and not a good idea. A child of 12 has to lean to take medicine, she is not 3. She appprently is old enough to have her ears pierced (not in my book) If there is redness and inflammation there is likely to be infection

Agree, warn her of the consequences of not taking the antibiotics, not having an earlobe

I have warned him of the consequences, tried bribery, tried telling off, tried being upset, stopped his pocket money and threatened to take his phone. Short of trying to physically force him (and he's bigger than me) I'm not sure what else I could do!

The meds are not optional. He's grounded with no WiFi or a screen time till he takes them.

This happened to a friend's ds, Lost his earlobe

Why are you only threatening things? I've threatened to take his phone? Why haven't you taken it? You've had histrionics bit not followed through. He knows you won't.

Because yesterday he lost his Friday treat and day before lost his pocket money. Phone is next step

He doesn't care about the consequences he has had so far. You are too soft. He could be duo quite poorly if he doesn't take the antibiotics. He goes nowhere and has no screen or WiFi till he takes it. You need to be the parent not the friend on this one.

It definitely sounds like a piercing bump. The best thing to do is to either remove the jewellery all together or go to a piercing studio and have a larger titanium barbell put in. You then need to get aspirin and mix with water to form a paste. Apply the paste every night and wash off in the morning. Aspirin promotes healing and the lump will dry up and fall off. Depending on the size it could take several months. Did you have the piercing done with a gun or was it done by a needle?