Have I ruined my ear for ever? (piercing related)

[QuintessentialyHollow]

I put in a pair of ear studs a year ago, they were flat and shaped a little like a shell, so covered the hole. I have not changed them since (minging, I know), as I forgot, then we moved to London and I forgot to bring other ear rings with me.

Until then I have only used 24 carat gold in my ears, due to allergies. This pair was 9 carat. Not sure this is important, but they are less "pure".

I took them off yesterday, and realized there was a lot of gunk, the back of the stud was all in dried up gunk, as was the butterfly piece. I had honestly not noticed. I had twiddled the studs regularly, and there were no noticeable problems.

To mu shock I realized that when I cleaned my pierced hole with antiseptic, a large chunk of gunk came out, and the hole was literally 2 mm diameter! I could see right through it. It was like the flesh in my ear had been "eaten" away and replaced by gunk. It was bleeding a little. It still feels a little sore.

What have I done.

I cant wear any studs or rings in that hole now. It will look hideous. My ear lobe looks hideous. I am worried I will have a big hole for ever, and that I have some infection or something.

What should I do? Panic?

(In addition my 9 year old just told me he cant see very well from one of his eyes, but thats another thread, and I just know it is going to be THIS type of Sunday)

Ok, will do, boiling some water now.

This is going to be fun. I mean, soaking my earlobe.

It is not pounding as much as yesterday night though.

Don't know if you've soaked it yet but if you have something like a shot glass you can, with some contortions, get your earlobe in. If you can get a seal against your head with it it's a lot easier too. A towel for shoulders is advised!

Cotton wool isn't always the best to wipe with though as the fibres come off and can irritate the piercing.

I'd still do the quarter teaspoon to cup of boiling water though. Too much of the salt can dry your ear out too much and then it gets sore from that. Apart from the soaks don't touch it at all. Resist picking at it!!

here is a great forum for piercings and the link is the healing and aftercare board. Can get some titanium bars to wear whilst your healing from there too.

HTH :)

Agree, Kabel- cotton pads don't give off fibres so much, though.

Cotton buds are best, easy to use too.

Ok, I have soaked. Ha ha. It does not actually look so bad.
But I saw the GP, as I had my son in for a thorough examination after the weekends "fun", and she said it was infected, so I have antibiotics.

She said it is unlikely to fuse. And when it has healed, I can wear ear rings occasionally.

Different opinion here

Go to a piercing shop - one that does body piercing not one where they just use the gun.

Get them to insert new surgical steel studs - the ones you had when first pierced and basically stick to the same routine as when they were first pierced.

A readily available source of saline is contacct lense storage fluid.

I know what you mean about the gunk - I tend to wear studs most of the time and every so often take them out and the butterfly is full.

Detol is good for cleaning earings - just give them a bit of a soak and let them dry before re wearing.

Sorry, disagree about letting Dettol anywhere near your skin if you've got something like this going on. I'd want to rinse in boiled water first. Pinkyredrose? (I had a flare up after doing something like this, once.)

Contact lens fluid is expensive, surely? Saline is easy enough to make up, and it's best used hot.

I'd agree that proper piercing shops can be really helpful, though, and can be a good source of allergenic studs etc.

Thanks, for all the advice. Never thought something so small should cause me so much bother. I dread a life with "naked ears". Well, not dread, but you know what I mean.

The only proper piercing shop I know is in Farringdon, and that was a very bright and clean and clinical set up. I came with my mate for his eye brow and belly button piercing aaaages ago. Not sure it still exists. But I can totally see that this would be the best place to go.

The titanium studs I have found when googling, are hideous. Tresor balls in different sparkly colours? I seriously cannot wear that!

I have soaked my earrings in fairy liquid, used a tootbrush to clean gunk, then soaked in sterilizing liquid and water. Should I also give them a boil?

Claire's accessories sell the piercing earrings.

I wear these. They aren't things of beauty, but they're inoffensive enough to wear for a bit, and my ears healed up miraculously quickly once I'd switched to them, so I didn't mind so much, especially for everyday wear.

Don't go to Claires they sell rubbish.

I am in pain. It is now even throbbing down the side of my neck. My face has started to swell.

I went to the minor injuries unit at the local hospital, and have now got both Penicillin V and Fluxocalline, 4 times a day for 7 days. Poor me.

Aw, bugger. Do persevere, though. I seem to remember I had to have some antibiotics too at one point. That and titanium studs plus diligent, careful and regular saline treatment as described. Seriously- get some studs ordered, who cares if they look a bit naff!

It might help to try ensuring you eat plenty of fruit and veg, drink loads of water and avoid booze for a few days. I can't say it's something I have any specific evidence for, but I felt I noticed a difference when I did. Have you seen a piercer yet?

Really hope it starts feeling better soon. Poor you, indeed.

Oh, and PS- change your pillowcase nightly, and keep your hair/anything else away from your ears.

I have my hair up, will change pillow cases, have not seen a piercer, it is a looong trek across to a different area of London. About do salinize my ear now....

I mentioned detol to clean earings, not ears. Am I the only person who cleans their earings?

I hope you feel better soon

sashh - er, no, you aren't. It's just that you suggested letting the Dettol dry on the earring before putting it back in. Presumably still with the Dettol on? Did that once and got really irritated ears, hence suggestion of rinsing it off after cleaning.

I am back to this thread.

I got much worse on tuesday night, started feeling faint, my face was swelling, and I went to minor injuries. They upped my doze to 500mg Fluxocillin 4 times per day, and in addition 500mg penicillin V 4 times per day. Felt a bit better wednesday evening and during thursday, but today I am feeling really rough.

I have pins and needles in my cheek and down the side of my throat.....

Blimey Quint, that sounds horrible. I would be tempted to go back to either minor injuries or get an emergency appt at the GPs. Never mind the piercing hole now, you need to get that infection sorted first.

I'd be tempted to say A&E if you can't get in to the GP today. Don't leave it until tomorrow.

The GP has slotted me in for 4pm.
I work from home, but have not had a mind to do any work the entire week. Only one big MN marathon for me. Cant focus. Feel really out of sorts.

Will go and have a nap now.

Good, glad to hear it Quint.. I hope the nap helps. Update us after the GP has seen you.