Slightly infected ear piercing

[GreyBlossom]

They were done 5 weeks ago, all healing nicely then one earring came out and I've obviously caused some damage putting it back in.

It's a bit sore, nothing awful and has been discharging a small amount of white pus. Similar to squeezing a small spot twice a day. I've been bathing with salt water and there's no white pus this morning, just a bit of watery discharge.

However, my glands are up on that side and I've had an awful headache since Sunday (could be completely unrelated). I feel otherwise well.

Just keep on with the salt water?

Experienced salt water user here! I have piercings that regularly do this. Do you have a picture at all to help determine whether your glands being up is related?

A picture of the ear? There's nothing to see. It looks exactly like the other one, but if you squeeze it a small amount of discharge comes out ..

How many days have you been bathing with salt water? I find that salt water is almost instant for me, max amount of time it takes to improve is normally 24 hours. If your glands are still up tomorow, I suggest booking a GP appointment.

I'd been using a wound cleaning spray the piercer recommended, but only actually tried the salt water for the first time last night and you're right, there is a marked improvement this morning, although glands still up.

Use the salt water about 3 times today then, and as long as your ear doesn't swell, wait until tomorrow to see a GP if your glands are still up. I'm no expert though, so you might decide to see one sooner.

Keep cleaning it, stop squeezing it and leave it alone!

This happened to us. We found hair wrapped round the earring post. Couldn't see it with the naked eye just with a torch. Unwound the hair. Bathed with salt water and fine in a week.

Is the piercing in the lobe of cartilage? If rhe latter, make an urgent GP appointment. DD has this and GP was very concerned. She said cartilage infections can be very serious. It all emended well though. She prescribed antibiotics and the infection cleared up.