Ear lobe piercing still not properly healed after 6 months

[Allsortsmakesnormal]

I got my lobes pierced 6 months ago, one of them has healed very well, the other still feels painful on and off and every week or so I get a day where I can squeeze pus out of the hole. Had them done with needles at a reputable piercing place, had the bars downsized after 4 months. Haven't taken them out at all in that time other than the piercer downsizing them for me. I would really like to change to some small gold hoops but I'm guessing this would just make the bad one worse? I'm not sure what to do.

I have had a similar experience.. only with my nose.. 7 months since it was pierced and it still hasn't really healed. I ended up taking out the piercing, giving it a really good clean and have gone back to spraying it with Neilmed salt saline and it is finally starting to feel better (I changed the stud for a ring as it kept being knocked out which probably hasn't helped!)
It sounds like there is a small pocket of infection if it still has pus.
I'm no expert (hopefully someone here is!) but I'd take it out.. boil the earring to sterilise it, clean the ear and use saline to keep it clean when you put the earring back in.
Then leave it be (that's what my piercer advises ..along with saline).

Some piercings can be really awkward. It’s definitely a myth that they heal in six weeks.

Something must be causing the pus though. It’s likely not an infection, but some sort of irritation. What metal are your studs made from?

Also, I know piercers don’t recommend it but I don’t care - surgical spirit is my go-to for piercings (I’ve had three new ones this past year). The only time I had an infection was when I relied on a saline spray.

Make sure you're wearing hypoallergenic metal earrings. My daughter's wars really settled down after I swapped hers from silver to titanium, I bought them from solace jewellery online.