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Original poster

Ear piercing not healing

47 replies

ewwness · 13/09/2022 07:22

DD 8 had her ears pierced 11 months ago and they've still not healed. We bathed them in the solution every day. Then salt water. There are lumps next to the back of the piercing and gunk around the back of stud. We've seen pharmacists who say see gp, gp says keep bathing.

Im thinking just take the damn things out and let them heal up. DD is in pain with them. This morning she's woken up with blood on her ears and pillow.

Im ringing 111 for advice once I get the other children to school but any mum advice would be greatly appreciated

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CeeceeBloomingdale · 13/09/2022 07:29

Both of my girls had piercings that took about 2 years to heal. I had similar problems as a child. I got an upper lobe piercing myself 14 months ago, done with a needle, and it is still not healed. A couple of weeks ago in desperation I removed the piercing studs ( titanium plated stainless steel) and put in normal Sterling silver earrings. I know this isn’t advised as they are more likely to cause allergies but suddenly they are healing and no longer sore or bleeding.

Sunshineandrainbow · 13/09/2022 07:34

Bpa piercing solution and
Prontolind Spray
These two products really helped when my daughter had the top of her ear pierced and it wouldn't heal.
Sounds like the lumps might be keloid scars. My Dd also had this and the BPA Drops healed the lumps and it is perfect now.

KendrickLamaze · 13/09/2022 12:31

Quite vile but if you squeeze the lumps and get the shit out, they will heal. One of my piercings had this and it healed after a few squeezes Envy not envy.

My daughter had the same and was scared to squeeze. It did heal but it took ages and lots of bathing.

bogoblin · 13/09/2022 12:35

What earrings does she have in? Sounds like she could be allergic to the metal. I'd recommend going to a reputable piercing shop and letting them have a look, they'll know all the tips and tricks and maybe have suggestions for different earrings to help them heal.

Original poster
ewwness · 13/09/2022 12:40

Thanks for the ideas.

I'd love to squeeze the gunk out but there is no way she'd let me, she just about tolerates cleaning them.

One popped more blood this morning so after an hour waiting on the GP appointment line she got an appointment. The nurse just said to take them out. If still oozing or bleeding in a couple of days to ring back and ask for antibiotics.

OP posts:
Mizydoscape · 13/09/2022 12:57

I'd suggest she's having a reaction to whatever metal the studs are made out of OP. I had similar with my nose piercing. Pierced correctly with titanium stud and all aftercare advice followed. After 2 years I switched out the stud for an implant grade surgical steel and it healed super quick and has been no problem since.

My ear lobe piercings were done over 25 years ago and they still flare up if I put anything in them that contains nickel, silver, gold etc.

Floydthebarber · 13/09/2022 13:00

I would just take them out, as someone who had not quite healed piercings for 15 years. How were they pierced, with a gun or needle?

Original poster
ewwness · 13/09/2022 15:18

Trying to get them out is a nightmare. They are flat backs and stuck with gunk. Waiting on water to cool so I can bathe them again and hopefully get them loose. Also they are screw fronts, bloody stupid idea.

They were pierced with a needle at a beauty salon. My niece has had piercings there since and they've all been fine.

OP posts:
threepointonefourone · 13/09/2022 15:20

Take her to a proper piercer. And do not, for the love of all things shiny, squeeze a healing bump. The more you touch them, the worse it gets.

GiantCheeseMonster · 13/09/2022 15:26

Go to a proper piercer for advice. If they are infected sometimes taking them out can make it worse as the hole allows infection to drain. Do not squeeze and don’t use home-made salt water - you want a proper sterile saline solution. The studio Holier Than Thou has a great advice page on their website and I’d have a read on there. If you can get to Manchester where they’re based I’d go and see them actually - they are amazing and have an international reputation.

Original poster
ewwness · 13/09/2022 16:00

I just don't understand how the nurse wouldn't prescribe her antibiotics but said "take them out and they should be fine by the weekend. If not ring us back and we'll prescribe over the phone" I mean wtf??? Just write her a prescription ffs. She's got green gunk oozing from her piercings.

Anyway - what's a piercer going to tell me to do that's different? I've used the cleaning stuff they supplied, I've tried protolind (someone mentioned it earlier), warm salt water. The piercing studio where we went said to use anti biotic cream on the ears - I can't get any.

I'm so bloody frustrated right now.

Tempted to take her to my local minor injuries but doubt there's anything they can do

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 13/09/2022 16:08

Take out the earrings and bath with hydrogen peroxide solution, any gunk will fizz as the bacteria is oxidised. I was told not to keep soaking and turning my newest piercing as you need it to dry out and heal and the constant touching will disturb the crusting and healing.

Pixiedust1234 · 13/09/2022 16:10

Your daughter will get to the point where the thought of anyone touching her ears will freak her out. Is there a possibility of taking them out, let them heal, repierce in a years time with -a different metal?

Original poster
ewwness · 13/09/2022 16:25

Pixiedust1234 · 13/09/2022 16:10

Your daughter will get to the point where the thought of anyone touching her ears will freak her out. Is there a possibility of taking them out, let them heal, repierce in a years time with -a different metal?

She's fine with having them taken out and re pierced in a couple of years. But actually taking them out of her ears is difficult.

She's in so much pain.

OP posts:
ewwness · 13/09/2022 16:29

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This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Madamecastafiore · 13/09/2022 16:30

Take them out they're causing her harm. Give her paracetamol and soak the ears in warm water and then ice and remove, tell her she needs to sit still and it'll be over quickly.

honeyfox · 13/09/2022 16:36

Omg,get those out asap. I'd say she needs to be seen by someone and get decent antibiotics.

Iamacatslave · 13/09/2022 16:37

Your poor daughter. Those ears look so sore. If you aren’t successful removing the earrings, pop back to the beauty salon and ask the piercer to remove them.

sidewayswalking · 13/09/2022 16:39

ewwness · 13/09/2022 16:00

I just don't understand how the nurse wouldn't prescribe her antibiotics but said "take them out and they should be fine by the weekend. If not ring us back and we'll prescribe over the phone" I mean wtf??? Just write her a prescription ffs. She's got green gunk oozing from her piercings.

Anyway - what's a piercer going to tell me to do that's different? I've used the cleaning stuff they supplied, I've tried protolind (someone mentioned it earlier), warm salt water. The piercing studio where we went said to use anti biotic cream on the ears - I can't get any.

I'm so bloody frustrated right now.

Tempted to take her to my local minor injuries but doubt there's anything they can do

I think your frustration is misdirected. When I started reading your thread I was really surprised to find you hadn't simply taken them out and allowed them to heal. 11 months is a long time.

Original poster
ewwness · 13/09/2022 16:50

@sidewayswalking believe me I'm angry with myself so much more for letting this get so bad

OP posts:
catfunk · 13/09/2022 17:01

11 months ago? Crikey I'd definitely be getting them out asap. Poor thing being in pain for almost a year. I'd wait till she's older to try again, and old enough to deal with the pain/ consequences.

KendrickLamaze · 13/09/2022 17:14

I don't think you need to take them out but it will certainly help. Mine and DDs ears looked like that. I smothered them in salt water twice a day and it soon cleared up. Either persevere or get rid of them.

EverythingsPeachy · 13/09/2022 17:16

She must be in a lot of pain. I have never seen these type of earrings used before for a new piercing. They don't look they would allow the healing process to work at all. Any piercing I've had I have started out with real gold small studs with a butterfly back they have healed well and quickly. I have many allergies and nothing flared up using them. I'd take them out let them fully heal and if she wants them done again in the future go to a proper piercing studio where they are much more knowledgeable and better equipped than beauty salons. Hope she feels better soon Flowers

Pixiedust1234 · 13/09/2022 17:19

Madamecastafiore · 13/09/2022 16:30

Take them out they're causing her harm. Give her paracetamol and soak the ears in warm water and then ice and remove, tell her she needs to sit still and it'll be over quickly.

^ this. Also since most of us have fat fingers can you use thin pliers or tweezers to hold the back while you twist the front?

Iamacatslave · 13/09/2022 18:57

Have you managed to remove the earrings?