Swollen Snug Ear Piercing?

Question

I got a snug ear piercing done five days ago and now it is so swollen and red that I can't sleep because it hurts so much. I have been cleaning it faithfully and I don't know why it's like this, I'm no stranger to piercings and I've never had one react this way. Is this normal in the healing process because this is an invasive cartilage piercing or should I go get it looked at? Please help.

Answer 1

You say it's snug? An ear piercing earring should NEVER be snug. I have a feeling you've put the back on too tightly, or when it was pierced it went on too tight.

Gently hold onto the front and back to the earring and pull on the earring back. This will loosen it. Keep pulling until you hear it "click" into the safety notch.

Keep cleaning it with ear cleaning solution. You shouldn't be using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. You want to use Benza Chloride (Claire's ear cleaning antiseptic).

Also- make sure you use a cotton ball to clean it and get plenty of solution into the piercing. Clean it from the front and back. Also, to clean any "crusties" that may have formed, use a Q tip to gently clean around the front and back of the earring.

Do BOTH the cotton ball and q-tip procedure each day.

Hopefully this helps if not, go to the place you got it done at and ask them, or if it worsens any more go to a doctor.

Answer 2

It's probably swollen because it is too snug and is constricting blood flow to the area.  Either I can tell you or a doctor will tell you the same, remove the piercing.  If you've never reacted to a piercing before and you're having one now then we have to put an allergic reaction aside and consider that it's just too tight.  You can try some ice on it first and some ibuprofen but if the blood flow is constricted, only a loosening or a removal will have any effect - sorry.

Answer 3

Get the earring out. I had an a barbel piercing done in my ear when I was 17, it went like yours sounds, the GP removed it for me and placed me on antibiotic tablets and a skin ointment as well.

If you have pus in there, by removing the earring, you can allow the pus to drain out.

Do see your GP or the emergency GP though to see if it needs antibiotics.

Answer 4

Try some hydrocortisone cream which may take down some of the inflammation...but it sounds infected and you may need antibiotics quickly.....Cartilage piercing is much more traumatic than soft tissue...it just takes one bacteria...no matter how well you clean it...also could combine the cortisone cream with a triple antibiotic cream...apply librally for the next day or so...if no improvement, you may want to see a doc.