2nd lobe piercing not healing

[Coughee]

It's been 7 weeks now. I went to a proper piercer who used a needle. I can't remember what metal they're pierced with but I don't think it's titanium but neither do I think it's cheap metal particularly. They are still slightly tender with one still leaking a bit of fluid every day.
I'm following the care instructions - cleaning around the piercing with saline solution and a q tip. Not touching or twisting them.
Is there anything else I should be doing? Or not doing?
Tia

I would go back to where you had the piercings and let them have a look

Egg cup of warm water and salt solution and dip your ear into it twice a day and if it doesn't heal then go back.

Thanks both. I'll give the egg cup a try. I was debating going back to her but wasn't sure if that was the done thing. Looks like it's ok to do that. I was wondering if it's taken longer because I do a lot of exercise and get very sweaty and shower a lot - so they're getting wet a lot.

My piercer said to use water and gentle soap three times a day plus a bit of Savlon

Latest advice is to leave them alone as much as possible. Just rinse with plain water and allow to dry. Use a hairdryer if you like.

The body is really good at healing itself if it's left alone to do so. If you are worried it's fine to go back to the piercer.

Are you making your own saline solution? That’s not a good idea. I buy contact lens saline solution.

No I use the contact lens saline solution too - as advised by the piercer. I was wondering about leaving them alone and actually tried that for a week but feel like they got worse - one ear started to get properly gunky.

I also spray mine with a wound spray from Boots.

I think six weeks is quite a conservative length of time (most say 6-8 weeks regardless), so if not infected, I would just continue with what you're doing for a few more weeks.

I had my lobes redone about a month ago (after having them done twice unsuccessfully when I was much younger, despite having a helix piercing with no issues!) and I plan to just leave the earrings in for at least a few months.

I find it takes a lot longer than the quoted 6 weeks. Dds lobes took about 6 months!

The same thing happened with my sister when she got her's done. She used salt water and tried to let time heal it but unfortunately, her ear fell off :-(. I recommend going to the hospital just to be extra careful the same thing doesn't happen to you.

Best Wishes :-)

Try Protolind spray from Amazon or wound solution. Don't use contact lens stuff as it contains preservatives which can irritate.
Mostly leave alone.

My second and thirds took about three months

My piercer suggests not ' wet' cleaning for a few days.
It worked for me.

I used these products on mine after it went really horrible & not healing and it cleared up really quick - the piercer said just use salt water but it wasn’t working and this stuff made all the difference :)

piercingmania.co.uk/piercing-healing-kit

Me and Dd had ours done recently and we're into advised to salt water clean for a couple of weeks and only every day for the first four days. After that leave alone and clean gunk off as required.

Mine are healed but dd is taking longer, but we just use salt water when it gets crusty, then add some antiseptic cream just in case.

Too much wet cleaning I think.

Thanks for all the new messages. I'm pleased to report neither of my ears have fallen off. One lobe definitely looks infected. It's red and a bit swollen. The other is fine just leaks a bit of fluid now and again so I think I'll take the advice to just leave that one alone. The other I have been soaking a couple of times in cooled boiled water and salt. It feels like theres an infection in there that needs drawing out.
I'm going to pick up some wound spray today and maybe have a chat with the pharmacist. I'll certainly try the other suggestions too if that doesn't work.
I think I'm just too old for this shit! I had been wanting a 3rd lobe piercing too at some point but I can't be doing with this again!

I had my Tragus done In December and all was fine until I went to the hairdresser in April and it kept getting bashed whilst having my hair washed. It's only now that is starting to heal again. Never infected was just always wet looking. I have been using Prontolind twice a day since early July and drying with the hairdryer and I only wipe if any residue.
Do you sleep on that side? It could be constantly irritated from sleeping?

Please don’t make your own salty water. Use saline solution bought from the chemist for contact lens wearers.

Contact lens saline has all sorts of additives and preservatives in it which can aggravate irritated skin. It's not intended for use on damaged and inflamed skin.

Homemade saline is fine as long as you don't make it too strong. It's just a pinch of salt in a full glass of water.

Why? I was advised salty water .

I would see if your piercer or another one can replace the earrings with titanium ones if you don't think they are. Titanium is the only completely hypoallergenic metal.
Some piercing shops stock special piercing sprays that help heal piercings too.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor Why? I was advised salty water

Because the reality is that people will stick a teaspoon of salt into some boiling water and think that that's the right proportions and will suffice. It isn't, and it doesn't. Saline and homemade salty water are not created equal.

What?

I had second piercings done last year (age 50) along with my 17 year old DD. My first piercings were done when I was at junior school and healed really quickly and I've never had any issues, these ones took a full 6 months to really heal and were quite gunky on and off. My DD's healed really well and quicker than mine. I wondered if my age was a factor!