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Original poster

Show me your "curated ears"

651 replies

Swiftbushome · 21/02/2023 12:13

I've caught the ear piercing bug and can't decide what to get done next. I currently have 3 lobe on my left and 4 lobe and tragus done on my right. Looking for inspiration.
Please show me your beautiful ears ☺️

OP posts:
Thread gallery
78
Original poster
Swiftbushome · 01/04/2023 16:04

Hmm I'd probably go back and ask your piercer to take a look tbh. Sounds like it could be infected. I think lobe infections tend to be fairly easy to clear up though

OP posts:
popgoesperfection · 01/04/2023 18:41

thanks for your reply @Swiftbushome
i'll pop in on my next day off and ask them to have a look.

popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 07:46

has anyone added any more piercings recently? I finally went and got my helix done just over a week ago. not had any problems or pain but this morning i have horrible throbbing pain it's woke me up. is this normal? it looks red and swollen this morning.

Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 08:25

I've never had anything like that tbh. Did you sleep on it by mistake maybe? I remember your seconds were causing problems a little while ago. Did you get them checked? Maybe your ears are just more sensitive than most?

OP posts:
evilharpy · 14/04/2023 09:14

I have a small lump at the back of my helix and it's quite sore. Not throbbing though. The piercer says it's normal at this stage (4 weeks in) as helixes are a pain to heal and get knocked about and caught in things and I keep accidentally sleeping on it. She says patience and cleaning are the key.

Mine doesn't seem to be infected though, throbbing doesn't sound ideal. Have you spoken to your piercer?

Pickingmyselfup · 14/04/2023 10:32

In classic me style my industrial started to bleed and has lumps on it. I'm just going back to cleaning it so it doesn't scab and I'll deal with the lumps at a later date. My helix are flaring up slightly too but nothing major so I'm leaving them alone. It's not been a yet and they are awkward to heal so a flare up from time to time is probably to be expected.

I'm debating getting a surface tragus on My industrial ear since I'm already being careful with that side. I'm also considering getting both nipples done towards the end of the year. Anybody had theirs done?

FunkyMonks · 14/04/2023 10:51

Same here my rook was doing fine and then a month in got sore and crusty again cleaning it and hoping it clears up and goes back to being normal again.
My helix can sometimes feel uncomfortable from time to time just got to hope they all heal and if they have issues just clean.

Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 11:01

Interesting. I haven't had any issues at all with my helix. I did get a horrible bump on my tragus for a while. Looked like a boil it was disgusting, but luckily that's gone now. I have a feeling my helix has been easier than some because I never brush my hair so I can't catch it. (that sounds worse than it is - I have curly hair so I do carefully comb conditioner through when I wash it!)

OP posts:
popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 13:22

yeah it does seem that this particular ear is sensitive. i'm at work until 6 today so no chance of going to my piercer today. it's very swollen now and some pus coming out of the front. help!

Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 14:32

Oh no. When I had the bump my peircer told me to boil a kettle, let the water cool enough that it doesn't burn you then soak a piece of unwoven gauze (or kitchen roll at a pinch but don't use gauze thats woven like a bandage or cotton wool) then apply heat and pressure to the swollen area of the piercing. Hold it there until the gauze cools then do it again - because it needs to be very warm - for up to 10 mins twice a day. Then follow with saline like normal. I don't know if that will sort an infection but it might be worth a go till you can get it looked at?

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Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 14:34

Otherwise could you ring them and send a photo? That might be enough for them to advise?

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FunkyMonks · 14/04/2023 16:43

Do you have Neil med saline spray you can get it on Amazon it's fine mist spray.
Don't boil kettle to cool down or do your own salt mix so many people get that wrong and end up causing more bacteria and risk of infection by doing that.

Clean it twice a day first thing in morning and then at night if needed too.

But also not over clean it if there's no crusties or puss then don't clean only when you can see any build up on the jewellery or around the piercing.

I'm only going off what my own piercer has told me when it's come to aftercare of mine.

Love cartilage piercings but wow they are a pain when it comes to the healing process.

Also another tip I came across was always ensuring after shower that the piercing was dried not left wet or wet hair on the piercing

I tend to wear my hair up a lot and pin back any lose hair strands so there's nothing touching mine both during the day and night time.

Ratatatatatouille · 14/04/2023 16:47

If it’s that bad you need a Gp to prescribe antibiotics. Don’t remove the jewellery. Use the neilmed solution to keep it clean.

popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 18:54

i've managed to get to my piercer and she's changed the bar to a bigger one. she given me a solution to use and told me to keep putting a cold compress on it to reduce the swelling. she's asked me to go back in the week to check on it. i can't believe overnight it's gotten so bad ☹️

Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 19:01

Glad you managed to get it looked at. And sounds like it's hopefully just irritated rather than infected which has got to be good

OP posts:
popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 19:09

my piercer said she thinks it's just really irritated. i'm going to see how it feels in the morning and might see if i can speak to a dr just in case.

popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 19:11

here's the offending ear

Show me your "curated ears"
BeansOnToast32 · 14/04/2023 19:18

popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 19:11

here's the offending ear

Ooofft that looks sore Shock

No new piercings here! Been almost 6 weeks since it got my Daith done, it's been a breeze so far (touch wood) not had any pain, redness, swelling or bumps. I had my 3rd lobes done a few days before the daith and the lobe on my daith ear plays up occasionally 🙄

evilharpy · 14/04/2023 19:29

Oh goodness that does look sore. Mine is only a wee small lump at the back of my ear, no 'proper' swelling like that. And in fact the soreness seems to have all but disappeared since yesterday. My friend had a helix done that caused her no end of problems and needed antibiotics (in fact I think two courses of antibiotics) to clear up the infection. I hope yours behaves better and settles down quickly.

popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 19:30

ooh i was fancying a daith next but i'm not sure if this has put me off a bit. the throbbing is driving me mad. i'm glad yours are healing well.

Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 19:31

Wow that does look sore. Hope it calms down for you soon.
I quite fancy getting my daith done eventually. I was going to get it in the other ear eventually but I haven't got the anatomy for it on that side apparently. My plan is a conch and flat on the other side first though as soon as the bits I have are healed

OP posts:
popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 19:34

how long do you wait before you have another piercing?
any suggestions on easing the throbbing?

Original poster
Swiftbushome · 14/04/2023 19:57

Can you take some ibuprofen?

OP posts:
popgoesperfection · 14/04/2023 20:08

i've taken some about half an hour ago. i'm really tempted to take it out.....

FunkyMonks · 14/04/2023 20:17

Bless that does look painful don't take it out I know it feels like the right solution but it could make things worse and trap an infection.

Honestly I reckon in a day or two that will go down keep taking anti inflammatories and pain killers alternate them.

My only advice would be keep your hair pinned back for a few days and maybe in the night so that nothing touches it and try not to sleep on it.

It's in the one spot that's more prone to get bumped as well bless you rather than more at the top.