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Children's health

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Infected ear piercing

24 replies

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 14:52

My daughter had her ears pierced at the start of summer holidays and all was initially going well. She accidentally pushed a plastic back into her ear at the same time of getting the earring in as she had gold plated ones for day to day and plastic for PE days. This then made that hole wider and also she was a bit crusty both sides so I assumed the plated earrings were irritating her. She's had some bleeding and tenderness the crusty ears behind have resolved. Anyway finally got a doctors app and they have given antibiotics, but he told me I must remove the earrings. I have cleaned the earrings but haven't removed them because her hole would close and I feel it's not a serious enough infection to remove and with cleaning, antiseptic cream and antibiotics it should resolve and also changing to solid gold from plated or plastic. Has anyone got any experience of this? I'm currently not sure I'm doing the right thing, I did tell the doctor I wouldn't remove I would give it a few days before I considered doing that.

OP posts:
rattlemehearties · 09/11/2021 14:54

WTF. Remove the earring. Let it heal/recover. You're risking sepsis and all sorts. Just get them pierced again future when this has passed.

dementedpixie · 09/11/2021 14:55

You arent supposed to remove them. You leave them in place to let the infection drain.

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 14:57

@rattlemehearties

WTF. Remove the earring. Let it heal/recover. You're risking sepsis and all sorts. Just get them pierced again future when this has passed.
I understand your thoughts but everything I've read is you shouldn't remove them because then you are sealing the infection in, which is why I wanted to wait it out, I would never take a risk with my child it's just complete mixed messages on what's best to do
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whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 14:57

@dementedpixie

You arent supposed to remove them. You leave them in place to let the infection drain.
That's what I've read but different to what the doctor has said, do you have direct experience of this?
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pastypirate · 09/11/2021 15:03

We have always reverted to the earrings used during the piercing which should stay in better abs left them in until at least the ears have healed. We clean daily and leave well alone. I've discovered that dd1 has the skin of a rhino and dd2 has a nickel allergy. Dd2 ears flared repeatedly last year in the summer term so I put the safety studs back in and banned anything else until the end of the summer holidays.

If you remove the earrings and the close over you are risking losing the piercing altogether as a reputable piercer will not pierce scar tissue.

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 15:15

@pastypirate

We have always reverted to the earrings used during the piercing which should stay in better abs left them in until at least the ears have healed. We clean daily and leave well alone. I've discovered that dd1 has the skin of a rhino and dd2 has a nickel allergy. Dd2 ears flared repeatedly last year in the summer term so I put the safety studs back in and banned anything else until the end of the summer holidays.

If you remove the earrings and the close over you are risking losing the piercing altogether as a reputable piercer will not pierce scar tissue.

The problem is that I think they were the issue the solid gold has meant one sides healed again nicely but ones still a bit sore
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pastypirate · 09/11/2021 16:09

@whyohwhyarewe you can buy surgical steel studs

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 16:11

[quote pastypirate]@whyohwhyarewe you can buy surgical steel studs [/quote]
Thank you I'll look into that

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Lellochip · 09/11/2021 16:42

How long did she have them done before she had to start swapping them out for PE? The irritation might be from messing with them before they're properly healed

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 17:11

@Lellochip

How long did she have them done before she had to start swapping them out for PE? The irritation might be from messing with them before they're properly healed
It was 8 weeks, but I'm sure the initial problem was the plastic for PE and pushing a back in which stretched the hole also The irritation coincided with two days of swimming when we went away one weekend as it happened afterwards by then she had had her ears pierced 3 months so I thought she would be ok. She's not looking swollen or red, one ear is just tender and had a bit of blood so that's why I don't think it's a serious issue. I read with minor infections it was best to leave them in and treat but the doctor said take them out so feel a bit unsure of it all. I was going to give till the weekend and make a call and if it got worse then get her to the doctors and I would take them out also. The doctor didn't see her it was just a video call.
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Throughabushbackwards · 09/11/2021 17:42

If you're able to change them to surgical steel hoops that will help. With a hoop, she can gently rotate it through the ear in the shower which will clean the gunk through and help it to heal.

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 18:00

@Throughabushbackwards

If you're able to change them to surgical steel hoops that will help. With a hoop, she can gently rotate it through the ear in the shower which will clean the gunk through and help it to heal.
Thank you sadly she's only allowed studs
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RedCarsGoFaster · 09/11/2021 18:03

Go see a proper piercer and have a chat. Not one who does it with gun. They are properly trained in this sort of thing.

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 18:08

@RedCarsGoFaster

Go see a proper piercer and have a chat. Not one who does it with gun. They are properly trained in this sort of thing.
I will do that's a good idea!
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Noeuf · 09/11/2021 18:12

I think GPs default to taking them out and piercers to riding it out with hygiene and LITFA. I’ve done both - took helix out twice and decided to give up on that piercing, rode out lobes and daith with antibiotics and salt water / cold compress / nurofen.

namechange1111111111 · 09/11/2021 18:14

I deal with this sort of thing at work and the advice we give is to change to sleepers whilst it heals.

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 19:58

Thanks all just cleaned them tonight and the bad ear is looking good no blood and hardly sore! Which is great

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Quartz2208 · 09/11/2021 20:04

GOld plated is terrible for wearing and infection - titanium is brilliant for such things

Lellochip · 09/11/2021 20:15

If she's allowed plastic studs for PE, can she get away with covering the metal ones with plasters for a while instead? Getting some hypoallergenic studs from a piercer (titanium would be best bet) and then just leaving them alone would probably give them time to calm down. No swapping studs in and out, no rotating etc, just very gentle cleaning.

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 20:41

She's not allowed studs in at all we just used plastic ones whilst she was getting used to them, but the teacher are probably didnt notice them in. I'll look into titanium for now I think the solid gold is helping definitely the gold plated were not great. I can only wear gold silver or platinum myself not plated either

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whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 20:42

Also only allowed to cover this week but next week they have to be out for PE

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WLAH · 09/11/2021 21:05

My daughter had a bad reaction and on verge going Dr when pharmist recommended Bepanthan nappy cream

whyohwhyarewe · 09/11/2021 21:13

@WLAH

My daughter had a bad reaction and on verge going Dr when pharmist recommended Bepanthan nappy cream
Interesting as I have this as I have a baby as well
OP posts:
WLAH · 15/11/2021 23:09

Did she end up with antibiotics

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