Any remedies for infected cartlidge piercing without taking the piercing out?

Question

I got my ear cartlidge pierced last March, and it is just now getting a bump on it. I dont want to take it out because this is the fourth time I pierced it and this was working out really well until now almost 8 months later. Is there any remedies or something I can try so that I dont have to take it out. I REALLY wanna keep it.

Answer 1

Just because there is a bump on it doesn't mean it is infected. If it is red, painful, oozing pus, hot to the touch, then it is probably infected. However, if you are just seeing a bump what you are likely seeing is hypertrophic scarring. Go back to the piercer who did it and have them take a look just to be sure. They will probably have recommendations for treatment. Consult with your piercer, that is your first step. It may not be either of those things, you could have a spider egg sac in there for all I know. ^_-



Here is what *I* would do, assuming it is hypertrophic scarring:



You got this piercing in March, it should be well on its way to being healed by now. Get your hands on some Vitamin E Oil, Tea Tree Oil or Pure Emu Oil (I prefer Emu Oil but vegans and vegetarians don't like it) and start doing daily oil massages. Once a day should be fine. You don't have to take out the jewelry, just rub the oil into the piercing. Go back to doing sea salt soaks like you did when the piercing was fresh (again, once a day should be enough).



If this doesn't help there are more hardcore treatments (I know some people do crazy crap like crushing up aspirin and applying it with some water like a paste to scarring, but that basically burns the scarring away and will only cause more trauma to your ear.) I'd try the less invasive oil massages and sea salt soaks for now.

Answer 2

If its infected, DON'T take it out. It traps all the gunk in there, and it can turn into an abcess.



Anyway. I don't think it is infected, i.e. dark yellow/green smelly pus. It just sounds like the bump (hyperttrophic scarring) Which is really really common in cartilidge piercings.

A few ways to treat it, some work better for different people.

I prefer cammomile soaks. Which involves making a cup of 100% cammomile tea, letting it cool a little. and dumping the wet teabag on your ear once a day for a few minutes.. Simple. And the warmth helps draw out all the gunk.

Some people like a dab of emu oil once a day. Not good for vegetarians though.

And as a last resort try a drop of tea tree oil. It can irritate skin though, so try the other first.

All of them need patience and take quite a while to work though. Sometimes the bump will go away on its own though.



Normally caused by ill-fitting jewellery, especially rings. But that really can't be helped when its ne, cause extra long bars for swelling are bound to be irritating. Barbells and labret studs are best.

Answer 3

Take the earring out and replace it with string, that can then be soaked in alcohol and rotated through the piercing and keeps it from closing up at the same time. Once the infection is gone you can put the earring back in. Use to have to do this all of the time when I was younger, the issue with me was that I had a nickle allergy and that would cause the inflammation. You may need to go to hypoallergenic or pure gold earrings.