Is your ear piercing infected? (Infected Ear Piercing) Don't worry, let's talk about this!

You got your ear pierced with the intention of looking beautiful... But now, a few days later, the area is red, swollen, and hurts to touch? Maybe there's some yellow or green pus coming out of the wound? This is actually something that happens to most people who get their ears pierced, so don't worry. Getting a new ear piercing is like making a small wound on our body. So we need to take good care of it until it heals properly. Let's see why this happens, what you can do at home, and when you should definitely see a doctor.

What is an infection in an ear piercing?

Simply put, getting your ear pierced means making a hole in your earlobe or in the cartilage above your ear. The new piercing is actually an open wound on your body . It takes several weeks for this wound to heal completely. During this time, if germs, such as bacteria, get into the wound from dirty objects, it can become infected, or what we call "sores."

When an infection occurs, you can usually see symptoms like these:

• The puncture site becomes red and swollen .
• It hurts so much I can't even touch it.
• When you touch that part, it feels a little warm .
• Sometimes it itches .
• A white, yellow, or green pus-like fluid is draining from the wound.

There are two main places to get your ears pierced.

The risk of infection varies depending on where we get our ear pierced.

1. Earlobe: This is the soft, fleshy part of the ear. Since it has good blood circulation, an earlobe injury heals quickly. Therefore, the risk of earlobe infection is relatively low.

2. Cartilage: This is the thick, slightly tough tissue in the upper and middle parts of the ear. It has less blood flow than the earlobe. Therefore, cartilage takes longer to heal and is more susceptible to infection . Cartilage infections can sometimes be quite serious.

How common is this? Is it an infection or just a normal recovery?

Serious complications from ear piercing are rare. However, minor infections and soreness are common. According to one study, about 35% of people who have had their ears pierced have experienced some kind of minor problem. These include:

• 77% have had minor infections.
• About 43% have had allergic reactions to certain metals.
• About 2.5% of people develop scar-like bumps (we call these keloid scars ) after the wound heals.

It's normal to have some soreness and redness for the first few days after getting your ear pierced. So some people confuse this normal healing process with an infection. Let's see how to tell the difference between the two.

Why do these infections occur?

The main reason for an ear piercing to become infected is because germs (bacteria) have entered the wound. These things can cause it:

• Ear piercing in a dirty place or with unsterilized equipment: It is essential that the ear piercing place is clean and the equipment they use is properly sterilized.
• Touching your ear with dirty hands: Frequent touching and twisting of earrings with dirty hands can easily introduce germs.
• Removing the earring before the wound has healed: If you remove the earring before the wound has completely healed, putting it back in can damage the wound and introduce germs.
• Not cleaning properly every day: You should clean the area every day as directed by your doctor or piercer.
• Swimming in swimming pools, rivers, or the sea before the wound heals: These should be avoided until the wound heals, as the water in public places can contain germs.

Other factors that increase risk

People with certain health conditions are at a slightly higher risk of developing infections because their immune system may be weakened. For example:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Other illnesses that weaken the immune system

If you are taking steroids or blood thinners, it is best to talk to your doctor before getting your ears pierced.

What happens if an infection is left untreated?

A minor infection usually clears up in a few days with proper care. However, if left untreated, the infection can become severe and develop into an abscess .

Especially if there is an infection in the ear cartilage, it is important to be very careful . If left untreated, the infection can spread throughout the cartilage (perichondritis) and develop into a serious condition. Very rarely, this infection can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body (systemic infection) . Therefore, if you have symptoms of an infection, do not ignore it.

What should you do for an infection?

If you have signs of an ear cartilage infection, see a doctor immediately. If it's a minor ear infection, take extra care at home to start. But if the condition doesn't improve after a day or two or if it gets worse, definitely see a doctor.

How do you take care of your ear piercing without getting an infection?

It's better to prevent an infection than to suffer from it. Follow these steps to do so.

• Do not remove the earrings: Leave the earrings in place day and night until the piercing is completely healed (usually about 6 weeks).
• Wash your hands before touching: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap before touching your ear or earrings.
• Clean twice a day: Clean the injection site twice a day using a mild soap and water or saline solution.
• Rinse thoroughly with water: After applying soap, rinse thoroughly with water to remove any soap residue.
• Follow your doctor's instructions: Sometimes you may be told to use an antiseptic lotion or ointment. Follow those instructions exactly.
• Gently rotate the earrings: Once a day, after cleaning, gently rotate the earrings to prevent them from sticking to the skin.

If you have these symptoms, definitely see a doctor.

If you have any of the following symptoms, do not attempt to treat them at home and see a doctor immediately .

• If you have a fever or feel like you have a cold.
• If the earring or earring clasp is stuck in the skin , or if it has become embedded in the skin in a way that cannot be removed.
• If the redness, swelling, and pain are increasing.
• If there is a foul-smelling yellow/green pus oozing from the puncture site.

ear piercing, ear infection, ear piercing, infected piercing, ear piercing, infection, ear piercing infection sinhala, sore ear piercing