Earlobe piercing still sore after 5 months

[JS87]

I had my earlobes pierced for first time (I'm mid forties) in February. Had them done at a reputable tattoo/ piercing parlour with a needle. They are implant grade titanium bars and were downsized around 4 weeks ago. They are still quite sore to touch. The piercer says they are healed now (they took ages) but he's stumped as to why they are still sore and says they shouldn't be. I'm assuming they probably aren't fully healed inside and that is why the hurt (especially when they twist). I haven't changed the earrings at all other than to get the bar downsized. Are some piercings just slow to heal? Maybe it's my age?

They should be healed by now really. It takes 6 weeks to heal and 6 months to stabilise.

What are you wearing in the ears? Still titianium?

Might be worth getting some high carat gold piercing studs (you can buy just the studs without the piercing from places like Claire's) and swap them over. Go for something with a straight bar through the ear.

Mine go through sore periods and I had them done back in the late 70s!

To minimise it happening, I now only wear gold. Even gold plated sets it off. It doesn't have to be mega pricey if you buy a very plain pair from Argos.

Also, if they start to feel sore inside the hole, I dip the bit that goes through in Savlon cream before inserting it. That sorts it out in hours.

Still titanium. Its supposed to be hypoallergenic so not sure why gold would be better although I have read others saying to try gold for people having issues.
I just went to check the sorest one and it was a bit crusty around the back and some pus oozed out of it. No other signs its infected though and I've had this pain for months with no signs of infection. I'll restart the saline washes. I stopped as decided it might help to leave it alone.

Hmm. Are the new bars long enough for your lobes so they aren't squished? I can't wear the piercing earrings the PP described - I have fat earlobes and the earring backs embed in my lines.

Titanium allergies are rare, but it can happen. Maybe switch out for a different metal?

Do you wear over ear headphones or anything that covers the ear? It could be aggravating the piercing and causing friction. It could also be harbouring bugs.

Are you a fiddler? Do you find you touch the area much? It could be cross infection.

Are you still cleaning them with boiled) and cooled) salted water? If not, might be worth starting it again to help keep the area clean.

I am a SLOW cartilage healer in my ears - latest one was in November and it's still angry - but my lobes and nose always heal quickly.

Def take out the studs and give everywhere a good clean.

Try a different metal. It's the most likely cause of the irritation.

Piercing studs are usually longer than normal studs to allow for swelling, but if your lobes are very thick they might not be long enough. You can go to a specialist piercing shop to see what flat back studs they have.

Still titanium. Its supposed to be hypoallergenic so not sure why gold would be better

I've tried every hypoallergenic earring going and they all, without exception, set mine off. Proper gold is the only metal I can wear in my lobes. Gold plated I can wear for an hour only.

I kept the initial bars in for 4 months and they were definitely big enough as there was excess bar at the back. They've now been swapped for shorter bars but there is a few mm spare at the end and no imbedding in the piercing.
I am a bit of a fiddler as I keep checking to see if they have stopped hurting so I think they might need a good saline rinse starting again. I stopped in case it was slowing healing. I don't think they have been infected at all and even now not sure if it is an infection or just immune cells due to some kind of irritation. I have titanium in my leg with no issues that I know of but will try some gold. Don't wear any headphones but the worst ear is the side I sleep on.

@thenightsky

good to know. I'll try gold.

My latest ones hurt forever, until I swapped them out for sleepers. As I was sleeping on the studs and making them sore. Sleepers are so much more comfortable and finer

@thenightsky is 18 carat gold best?

Agree with nzeire, I had mine pierced 50 years ago (!) and I find studs really uncomfortable to wear at night. I also still get sore ears if I wear anything other than 9 or more carat gold for more than an hour or so.
I suggest you start the saline cleaning regime, as it could be infected if it is producing pus, and try decent 9 or 18 carat gold sleepers.

Oh yeah, I can't wear studs at night either.

I just take my earrings out when I go to bed. You'll be fine to do this now and they shouldn't close over night.

If you are worried though, thin hoops (sleepers) will be ok to sleep in

I have pierced ear lobes, cartilage and nose. Cartilage and nose are fine, but loves I can’t wear any type of metal without them being sore almost immediately…
by the way if you have pus coming out - that is some sort of infection

I've got 9 carat and 18. They are both ok. I just pop them in, after dipping in Savlon cream if I'm a bit red or sore. Mine are these... www.argos.co.uk/product/8883827?clickSR=slp:term:gold%20earrings:2:55:1

Oh my.
Did had hers done in a proper place, titanium jobs.
We tried surgical steel after 4 months

Did not heal for 10 months.
She was so pissed off.
My mum very kindly lent her some 18ct gold studs.
Two weeks later totally healed.

There's some really good drops on Amazon called Pro something, they also helped but only when the gold went on.

We were amazed

Hth

It's called Prontolind x

I went to see the piercer again this afternoon. It's not infected, just plasma he thinks. I also don't really think its infected but that is an aside to the question anyway. The piercing isn't healed. He is adamant there is no difference between implant grade titanium and real gold. Only one in around 6 million or so are allergic to titanium and you would know if you had an allergy as it would be very red and itchy. I just think its sore as not healed yet. However, I take the real world experiences detailed by posters above and will try some 18ct gold sleepers as there could be a difference between a metal causing irritation and allergy.

Definitely worth a try, I'd place bets my DD was that person in 3million.
Someone has to be xx!

I’m a crap healer. I’ve got 3 lobe piercings on each side. Even the basic first lobes took a good year to fully heal.

I would just leave them alone and be patient.

I would take them out at night, clean the posts and the holes, and put them back in in the morning. If I don't put mine in for a couple of days, when I do try to put them back it hurts!

With all this advice of changing jewellery and taking out at night etc just remember every time you are doing this you’re tearing the healing tissue inside your piercing and it’ll take even longer to heal! You need to leave them alone as much as you can.

They sound really irritated. It's unusual to be allergic to implant grade titanium but not impossible.

It would be worth trying 18ct gold. Put them in and leave them alone. Just wash off any crustiness with plain water.

It is possible that the actual irritant is some product you are using? Perfume or hairspray for example? Are you using saline? If so and you are making it yourself then it is literally just a pinch of salt in a glass of water. Most people make it far too strong which make it an irritant in itself.

If all else fails try Niobium posts. It is the most hypoallergenic metal of all.

I buy the saline eye wash but I stopped using it in case that was irritating them. Don't wear perfume or hairspray but I could try different shampoo.
I don't think I'm allergic to titanium. I have a titanium nail in my leg so sure I'd know if I was. The one I don't sleep on took longer to heal but isn't sore now so I think sleeping on it is irritating it. I agree that leaving it alone should help. It seems quite hard to find 18K earrings which are pure gold (which aren't very expensive) so I might give the titanium a bit longer first as gold wouldn't be my preferred choice of colour to wear in the future.

Try neilmed piercing spray for cleaning. That’s pure sterilised saline. Saline eye wash likely has other additives and it’s not suitable for piercings.

I brought some 18ct gold studs to try. However the diameter of the post is smaller than the diameter of my titanium earrings. I'm concerned that if if swap to these the holes will heal thinner and then I won't be able to get my original earrings back in so now I'm not sure what to do.