How to care for a cartilage piercing infection?

Question

I got my cartilage pierced about three weeks back, and I've been taking care of it the way the piercer told me to, but it's been starting to hurt a couple days ago. I think I pulled too hard while I was drying my hair with a towel a few days back, and it made my piercing bleed, which might have been the cause of my infection?

There was a little bit of pus at first, but now that stopped. It's basically red and swollen right now, and it hurts when I touch it. I would go to a doctor, but it's kind of hard because I'm out of the country right now. Should I take my earring out or leave it in? And what should I do to take care of my infection?

Answer 1

I was told that if you take your ring out pop it in some hot salt water then get a cotton pad dip that in another pot of salt water and clean where your piercing is then dry your earing on another cotton pad. And soon it should get better.

DON'T FORGET TO WAHS YOUR HADS BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR RING OUT AND BEFORE YOU PUT IT IN.

Answer 2

mine did it and i left it and it got skin over it and i had to...RIP, it out with pliers. D'x it hurt so bad!

take it out.

Answer 3

Don't take you ring out.

IT WILL LEAVE A BUBBLE forever.

I had my nose cartilage pierced andi took it out infected now i have the infection IN my skin.

Leave it in and treat it with an antibiotic ointment, goto the front desk at any store that would sell it and ask.

Take care : )

Answer 4

with piercings if a doctor has a look then they will prob put you on antibiotics and take it out, but i think the best thing to do is, treat it with saline solution (about half a tea spoon of rock salt in a cup of warm water), try to hold your piercing in that for 5-10mins morning and night, what this does is, clean out all the c**p in the piercing, try that for awhile (week or so) and see if you get any improvements. try not to touch it or upset it 2much. if u can call your piercer and see what they have to say do tht...although this can depend...some dont know what there on about. but in the end as a last resort you might have to take it out and get it re-pierced.