When do pierced ears get infected

Skip to navigation menu Skip to content. High Priority Alert. Close alert. Informational Alert. Ear Piercing Symptoms. Is this your child's symptom? Minor infection of pierced ear Symptoms are pain, redness, crusting and swelling at the earring site Spreading redness is more serious and needs to be seen Causes of Infections in Newly Pierced Ear Piercing the ears with tools or earring posts that aren't clean sterile Not cleaning the earlobes daily Taking the earring out before the channel is healed 6 weeks Touching earrings with dirty hands Earring backs that are too tight against the earlobe.

Reason: pressure from tight earrings reduces blood flow to the earlobe. Posts that have nickel in them can also cause an itchy, allergic reaction Causes of Infections Later After the Pierced Ear has Healed Not cleaning the earrings and posts daily Touching earrings with dirty hands Earring backs that are too tight against the earlobe.

Not taking the earrings out at night Anything that causes a scratch or tear in the ear channel. After you get the piercing, clean your ears twice a day with the rinse provided or sterile saline. You can clean around the piercing without removing the earring. This is a common way infection starts. Getting your ears pierced should involve a few moments of pain in exchange for the chance to dress up your earlobes and have some fun. When an infection strikes, treating it promptly ensures faster healing with fewer complications.

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Thinking about getting a tongue tattoo? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Infections Symptoms Home treatment When to see a doctor Prevention We include products we think are useful for our readers.

The earlobe is a fleshy area with a lot of blood flow. When the ear is pierced, it takes about six weeks to fully heal. It is important to care for the newly pierced ear as instructed by the ear-piercing professional.

Slight irritation is normal. Infection can happen and will clear up if it is mild. If the area does become infected, call a healthcare professional. Symptoms of infection include:. Ear piercing in the cartilage area is a popular option.

Auricular cartilage is located at the top of the ear, and it does not have blood vessels or nerve cells. Due to this fact, the piercing takes a longer time to heal. In addition, infection can cause more complex issues beyond fever, bleeding, and swelling. With infection of the cartilage, perichondritis —an infection of the skin tissue that surrounds the cartilage—is possible.

If it is left untreated, a systemic infection could develop and affect the whole body. An infection in the cartilage from ear piercing can become serious. Call a healthcare professional immediately if there are any signs of infection in this area. There are times that an ear piercing shows the signs of infection but it's an allergic reaction. This is common with a number of people.

Nickel earrings can cause a possible allergic reaction. When it comes to ear piercing, the symptoms are typically a dry, scaly red rash and extreme itchiness. If this happens, a healthcare provider can prescribe medication to help with the allergic reaction. An old ear piercing can get infected. It is important to keep the area clean.

The following situations can lead to an infection of an old piercing:. It is important to be extra careful when handling a new piercing. If bacteria get into a new piercing, it can cause infection. Other causes include:. If the ear is infected from an earlobe piercing, clean around the area and take your time cleaning and rotating the earring.

If there is an infected cartilage piercing, contact your healthcare provider so they can determine the severity of the infection and treat it. There are a few treatment options that will help the healing process of an infected ear piercing:. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your healthcare provider:. Infection as a result of ear piercing is not a great experience.

Prevention is important.