Ear piercing, bump?? Photos attached

[Exhausted0106]

Apologies for the gross images. Got my lobes re-pierced back in April (had previously been pierced back in December but closed over). I have had the same flat backs in since they were pierced. I went back to the piercer a month or two ago to ask for advice about this bump (it was smaller at the time) and she believed it was just irritation from sleeping on my side. However I sleep on both sides and the other ear is fine. The bump is getting more uncomfortable especially when touched. I had been washing it with saline but have kind of given up... Any advice welcome please.

(2nd pic was taken just after the 1st, small change in appearance was caused by me touching it)

No pic? But whenever that's happened I've taken the piercing out. And just kept cleaning it. I think it's basically failed. Best just leave it and keep it clean.

Pics should be up now but I was supposed to mark them both as sensitive

Oh yes I see now. Ouch! Yeah I think take the earring off.

That's infected. I've no specific advice but you should be able to clean it and clear up the infection without removing the earring so you can keep the piercing if you want to. It'll be simpler to removing the earring but terribly painful to get it back in again so it's a decision on earring out and repierce when all healed up, or better cleaning and stick with the piercing.

I've read that removing an infected piercing can trap the infection inside the ear so I think I'll try and hold off until I can ring the GP on Monday, however when I'll get an appt, who knows 😵‍💫

Are you having an allergic reaction to the metal in the earring? (I found out the hard way that I was allergic to nickle when my ear swelled up). You'd be better off replacing with allergy free earrings.

Whilst you wait to get it removed ( I agree with that if its really infected as you might need anti biotics, or topical cream) I was going to suggest tea tree oil for piercings... but when I googled it there actually was an oil for piercing bumps.. so maybe google their website and see if there's advice on that.

That looks like it’s full of pus. Ouch. Personally I would remove it and bathe it in warm salt water and seek medical advice if it doesn’t heal up well.

It looks infected to me. What have you used to clean it?

Pretty sure its a foreign body granuloma. Filled with white blood cells not pus. Ive had a few. Leave the piercing in if its good quality metal and clean with boiled salt water

Granuloma. Am heavily pierced and have had a few. Mine were from knocking and fidgeting. They looked just like that. They go with care and patience. If it was infected, it would be incredibly painful.

I know when DD had hers done she had something like that from getting hair wrapped round it

Thanks everyone for the replies, I have got some conflicting advice lol so will try to get in contact with GP on Monday morning. I really haven't cleaned it as much as I should but I have gone back to using my saline solution for now. It is intermittently painful throughout the day and blowdrying my hair the other day was agony! I only got my ears pierced for the first time as an adult, not sure piercings are for me unfortunately.

You can just go to a pharmacy with this

I second this. Go to a pharmacy, dont wait until Monday. However, until you have seen someone DON'T take the piercing out. If it is an infection and you do it is possible for the infection to get trapped in the closing piercing and make it much worse.

Have never spoke to a pharmacist for health advice, please excuse my ignorance!! Do I just walk in to the like of Boots and ask someone at the counter to take a look?

Yes. I’m sure it’s a granuloma.
if you haven’t been keeping it clean it will get irritated. Wash with saline solution but a pre made one, don’t do your own.
dry front and back using Kitchen roll as it won’t shed fibres.

I have a bump like this in one of my lobe piercings, I would definitely get it checked by a pharmacist first to rule out an infection.
Mine wasn't infected so I used a saline spray. It would improve and then come back. I looked online for a different piercing cleaner, and ordered a spray called Protolind due to the good reviews.
It's brilliant stuff. I used it every day and after a month or so it gradually decreased to a little hard lump, hardly noticeable.
I've had a few more cartilage piercings since then and always used it and I've not had any problems since.
I also use it to keep my piercings clean, every 2-3 days.

Forgot to add, really important to keep it dry - waff with cold dryer. I'd ask your piercing studio for advice.

I have a Tragus that got battered by the hairdresser and got a bump and took forever to heal. Using Prontolind was the last try and if not I was going to remove the piercing. A few weeks of spraying and all healed. I got mine online.
edited for spelling

It does look like a granuloma or irritation bump rather than an infection - with an infection it would be very red and the pain is murderous.

Can you go back to your piercing studio tomorrow? They see this stuff day in and day out and will tell you whether it's best to leave it in or take it out (and keep up the spraying) .

I second the suggestion to go back and see your piercer, tomorrow if possible. The post looks quite long, should you have had it downsized yet? The more movement there is with jewellry, the more irritated the piercing may get. You can use a travel pillow or even get an actual Pillow With a Hole to avoid sleeping on the piercings when fresh or irritated.

I will go into the piercer tomorrow and have a chat with her about it