How to Treat an infection in Your ear caused by Your new earring

Infections are unfortunately common when one first gets pierced ears. These can be caused by any number of things including an allergy to the metal of the earring being used; improper piercing techniques; the use of unsanitized equipment during piercing; bacteria on the skin of the pierced ear; or some other reason. Whatever the ultimate cause, it is important to treat the infection as quickly as possible.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Rubbing alcohol
• Antibiotic cream or ointment
• Cotton swabs
• Replacement earrings of precious metal (if required)

1. Eliminate the possibility that the so-called "infection" is actually an allergy to the metal of the earrings you are wearing. If the earrings are made of precious metal, chances are good that an allergy is not the problem. However, if the earrings are made of mystery metals, like nickel compounds, then you could be experiencing an allergic reaction. Treat the infection and then switch your earrings to a type that is made up of a precious metal. If the problem still exists after the earring switch, then you are dealing with an infection and not an allergy.
2. Make certain that you have an infection and not just the mild irritation that happens when you first pierce your ears. Minor irritation may cause slight redness and swelling. It may even involve a small amount of crusting around the hole caused by fluid leakage. In most instances, minor irritation will start to dissipate within 48 hours. On the flip side, an infection will be hot to the touch and may cause you to have a fever. It will also be excessively red in color, extremely painful to the touch, and could involve slight blood or puss seepage out from around the earring.
3. Clean the infected area with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol using a cotton swab and gently pushing the cleansing liquid around the ear and into the hole as much as possible. Continue the cleansing technique to the entire ear area since it could be existing bacteria on your skin that is causing the problem in the first place.
4. Rotate the earring carefully, applying more of the cleansing liquid around it to make certain that it is worked all the way through the hole as much as possible.
5. Apply a bit of antibiotic cream or ointment around the earring, using a clean cotton swab.
6. Seek treatment by a physician if all of the above steps fail to solve the problem. It may be necessary for him to add a round of antibiotic medications to the above standard cleansing treatment in order to effectively eliminate all of the bacteria.
7. Identify the source of the infection, if possible. Your physician should be able to help you with this. You need to know if it is due to metal allergies; poor hygiene of the person who performed your piercing; unclean piercing equipment or materials; or poor hygiene practices on your part. If you do not find the problem, it is possible that you will repeat it and cause the infection to occur over and over again.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose an accredited ear piercing place with a good reputation.
• Feel free to ask as many questions about the piercing process as necessary to help you ensure that infection won't occur.
• Use earrings of precious metals like platinum or gold at least until the piercing properly heals.
• Use stud earrings in the initial piercing process.
• Whether or not you have an initial problem, clean your ears regularly.
• Follow all of the instructions you are given about how to cleanse and maintain your pierced ears.
• Stop all other treatments and call a physician immediately if your ears begin to bleed or if you develop a high temperature.
• Make sure that your hands are clean whenever you are cleaning or changing your earrings.
• Home ear piercing is not the best idea as unclean practices and materials may result in infection.
• Don't be afraid to ask the ear piercing place to explain how they clean and sterilize their equipment.
• Avoid earrings that are made of mystery metals.
• Avoid earrings that are too large or too heavy in the starting phase of ear piercing.
• Don't choose French wire, lever back, or other types of pierced earrings during the initial stages of the piercing.