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Original poster

Piercing stuck beneath skin

32 replies

Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 02:51

Hi everyone, please help?!

I got my forward helix pierced in my ear in April. Followed all the aftercare etc, thought it was healing well until I’ve recently discovered that the ball has disappeared underneath my skin - like skin has grown on top of it 😟😟 I’m really scared!

the piercing shop I went to is closed until Wednesday - what do you think I should do?! I’m not even sure what they’re gonna be able to do now. Do I need to go to A&E?

thanks xx

OP posts:
FloofCloud · 23/10/2023 03:21

Is only go to A&E if it was an emergency. Try your GP tomorrow or find a different piercing shop

Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 03:37

FloofCloud · 23/10/2023 03:21

Is only go to A&E if it was an emergency. Try your GP tomorrow or find a different piercing shop

Okay, thank you.

getting an appointment with my GP is an absolute nightmare!

OP posts:
MrsSucculent · 23/10/2023 06:19

Nah you’ll be ok to wait unless it gets really infected. The piercing shop will able to sort it.

Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 06:47

MrsSucculent · 23/10/2023 06:19

Nah you’ll be ok to wait unless it gets really infected. The piercing shop will able to sort it.

Just worried that as more time goes on the more the skin is growing over it and the harder it will be to remove!

OP posts:
yarnwitch · 23/10/2023 07:03

I would ring your GP surgery and see if they are able to help or point you in the right direction. A minor injuries walk in place if you have one might be worth a try.
If the skin has grown completely over it and it needs some sort of cutting out I'm not sure if the piercers can help with that

Jifmicroliquid · 23/10/2023 07:23

I went to the GP over a badly infected belly bar when I was 15 and I got a rollicking off them for having a piercing.
Id probably try the piercing shop first and then if they can’t sort it, pop to a walk in centre.

webster1987 · 23/10/2023 07:52

I had this as a child, not my helix, but just a regular ear piercing on the lobe. The butterfly back had gone into my earlobe and skin had essentially grown over it. I was taken to A&E and had to have it removed by them as needed to cut the skin. This was some 20 years ago though so I appreciate A&E is more busy now. Perhaps a call to 111?

Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 08:16

yarnwitch · 23/10/2023 07:03

I would ring your GP surgery and see if they are able to help or point you in the right direction. A minor injuries walk in place if you have one might be worth a try.
If the skin has grown completely over it and it needs some sort of cutting out I'm not sure if the piercers can help with that

That was my concern. I think the piercer will be able to take the bar out the back but not the diamond but at the front as that’s what the skin has grown over :( I believe at this stage it probably needs cutting out. I’m terrified!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 08:16

Don’t think the bar was big enough in the first place.

OP posts:
ElFupacabra · 23/10/2023 08:20

You’ll need to speak to your GP the piercers won’t be able to do anything. GP will assess and refer you. It’ll likely be a small incision to remove the stud. How did you not notice this was happening? You need to be on top of cleaning and maintaining piercing, if you’re not able to do that don’t get any more. Our NHS should have to pay for this tbh.

apric0t · 23/10/2023 08:25

Just go to the piercer on Wednesday. There isn't going to be any significant change in skin growth between now and then and should be straightforward to remove with the tip of a sterilized needle. (Piercer 14 years experience we do this kind of this all the time) and don't be worried it will be fine

OneFrenchEgg · 23/10/2023 08:39

I'd be wiggling it to see if it popped through tbh. Only had one awful infected piercing, had a thread on here. Managed not to lose it by using cream from GP.

Ostryga · 23/10/2023 08:43

I wouldn’t go back to the original piercer if they can’t even pierce with correct jewellery they will mess it up even more.

I’d phone around piercers today (the best rated in your area) and speak to them to see what they suggest. Some piercers are trained to cut and stitch stretched ear lobes so they’re probably your best bet.

If not, pop yourself to a minor injuries until/walk in later today and they will either sort it out there or send you to A&E.

Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 10:28

ElFupacabra · 23/10/2023 08:20

You’ll need to speak to your GP the piercers won’t be able to do anything. GP will assess and refer you. It’ll likely be a small incision to remove the stud. How did you not notice this was happening? You need to be on top of cleaning and maintaining piercing, if you’re not able to do that don’t get any more. Our NHS should have to pay for this tbh.

I was on top of the cleaning - it literally happened over night, I think I laid on it and I noticed in the morning.

How very judgemental of you deciding on whether the NHS should cover this - it’s literally a piercing… plenty of other things the nhs shouldn’t cover too, I’m hardly that irresponsible

OP posts:
Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 10:30

Ostryga · 23/10/2023 08:43

I wouldn’t go back to the original piercer if they can’t even pierce with correct jewellery they will mess it up even more.

I’d phone around piercers today (the best rated in your area) and speak to them to see what they suggest. Some piercers are trained to cut and stitch stretched ear lobes so they’re probably your best bet.

If not, pop yourself to a minor injuries until/walk in later today and they will either sort it out there or send you to A&E.

I honestly think that’s what happened… they didn’t use the correct jewellery. I’m really unhappy. Thing is it was fine for the past 6 months and I was cleaning and maintaining it fine e.g. saline spray daily and not sleeping on it. I’ve only recently started sleeping on it and this happened. Definitely the wrong size bar. I will phone 111 and see if they can direct me to a walk in.

thanks for your help xx

OP posts:
LimeMango · 23/10/2023 10:55

I had the exact same issue as an adult, the butterfly had gone inside my ear and skin grown over it. I went to what was then called a minor injuries unit. They cut the earring off with glorified pliers, as the ball was still visible. I still have that earring somewhere!

OP try a walk-in centre. It’s not an A&E job.

rainbowstardrops · 23/10/2023 10:59

My daughter's stud went into her ear a few years back now. We were on top of the cleaning too and it just happened overnight while she was asleep.
I took her to A&E and they managed to cut it out and then gave her antibiotics. If you're not sure about A&E, call 111 instead.

Cheeesus · 23/10/2023 11:01

LimeMango · 23/10/2023 10:55

I had the exact same issue as an adult, the butterfly had gone inside my ear and skin grown over it. I went to what was then called a minor injuries unit. They cut the earring off with glorified pliers, as the ball was still visible. I still have that earring somewhere!

OP try a walk-in centre. It’s not an A&E job.

Not every area has walk in centres.

Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 11:01

LimeMango · 23/10/2023 10:55

I had the exact same issue as an adult, the butterfly had gone inside my ear and skin grown over it. I went to what was then called a minor injuries unit. They cut the earring off with glorified pliers, as the ball was still visible. I still have that earring somewhere!

OP try a walk-in centre. It’s not an A&E job.

Ah thank you! I’ll find a walk in!

OP posts:
Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 11:03

rainbowstardrops · 23/10/2023 10:59

My daughter's stud went into her ear a few years back now. We were on top of the cleaning too and it just happened overnight while she was asleep.
I took her to A&E and they managed to cut it out and then gave her antibiotics. If you're not sure about A&E, call 111 instead.

It’s really helpful to hear that this seems to be a common issue that’s happening a lot to others as well, despite the best cleaning efforts.

I honestly never expected this to happen 7 months after I’d got it pierced… I thought it was healed and ok to sleep on by now.

OP posts:
LimeMango · 23/10/2023 11:16

OP mine happened well over ten years after having the piercing done. I think I just fastened it too tightly and then slept on it. By that point I had long stopped checking it daily.

Mabelface · 23/10/2023 11:43

Your piercer will be able to sort this, and see similar every day. Keep it clean, then see them on Wednesday.

Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 14:09

LimeMango · 23/10/2023 11:16

OP mine happened well over ten years after having the piercing done. I think I just fastened it too tightly and then slept on it. By that point I had long stopped checking it daily.

Thanks for sharing @LimeMango blimey, 10 years later?! That’s crazy. How do you think that happened, because the bar was too small? I thought it was ok to sleep on piercings after they’ve fully healed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Midnight2290 · 23/10/2023 14:10

Mabelface · 23/10/2023 11:43

Your piercer will be able to sort this, and see similar every day. Keep it clean, then see them on Wednesday.

Personally I don’t think they will… I believe it needs cutting out now and I don’t think they’ll be able to sort that out. I’m trying to contact them on instagram and share pics to avoid making the trip to them as I actually got the piercing about 45 miles away from me while visiting a friend.

OP posts:
LimeMango · 23/10/2023 21:39

I can’t work out how to quote!

OP — I had a bad habit of fastening studs very tightly, because I didn’t trust them to be secure otherwise. I’d leave them in for days on end, weeks on end I guess, so it could have happened gradually and I didn’t notice.