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How to prevent/stop piercing infection
Hey Vault fans.
In todays blog I am going to write a little bit about piercing infection. Yes I know, not a pleasant thing to discuss, however it happens and here are some tips on how to deal with an infection before it gets worse and a visit to a doctor is crucial.
A piercing is essentially an open wound, most piercings usually takes few weeks to heal. Cartilage piercings, which take place on the harder part of your ear, generally take longer to heal and can be more prone to infection. There are several ways your ear piercing can get infected.
Any bacteria left to fester can quickly turn into an infection. If you touch your piercing with dirty hands or tools, you can introduce an infection. If the earrings are on too tightly, not allowing room for the wound to breathe and heal, an infection can develop. A piercing can also get infected if there’s too much handling of the piercing or the post of the earring is rough.
An infection can also occur if unsterile tools were used, if the person piercing your ears didn’t use gloves, or if the posts themselves weren’t sterile.
To avoid infection, have your ears/rest of the body pierced by a professional. Don’t do it at home. Be sure to ask about their infection prevention protocol. Also ask if their tools are sterile. Confirm that the earrings they use come out of a new, sterile package.
After you get the piercing, clean your ears twice a day with the rinse provided or sterile saline (which we sell :)). Don’t turn your jewellery, as this can create trauma to the skin and cause infection. You can clean around the piercing without removing the earring.
While it’s tempting, avoid excessive handling or playing with the jewellery. This is a common way infection starts.
It’s fairly easy to identify an infected ear piercing. Symptoms may include:
- yellow, pus-like discharge
- swelling
- redness
- ongoing pain or tenderness
- itching and burning
As long as your infection is minor, you may be able to take care of it at home.
Follow these steps to take care of a minor piercing infection:
- Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing.
- Clean around the piercing with a saltwater rinse three times a day. Use sterile saline or combine 1/4 tsp. of salt with 8 oz. of distilled water.
- Don’t use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or antibiotic ointments. These can further irritate the skin and slow the healing process.
- Don’t remove the piercing. This can cause the hole to close up and trap the infection.
- Clean the area from all angles. Pat the area dry with paper towels. (Other materials may leave behind fibers.)
After the infection appears to have cleared, continue this cleaning regimen twice a day until the piercing is totally healed. Remember, most piercings can take couple of weeks to heal. Routine care is important during that time.
Usually, a minor infection of a piercing can be treated successfully at home. But if any of the following symptoms occur, seek medical attention:
- The piercing doesn’t move.
- The piercing becomes embedded in your skin.
- The infection doesn’t improve with home treatment within two days.
- You develop a fever.
- The infection, or redness and inflammation, spreads beyond the piercing site.
