Help! Ear Infection from my piercing?!

Help! Ear Infection from my piercing?

just a few days ago, i found a bump in the back of the ear. it was next to my piercing. I had just gotten it 8 weeks ago. Does anyone know the best way to treat it. I don't really want to go to the doctor so is there anyway to treat it on your own??? By the way, i got the ear lobe piercing at claires

An infection can take 24 to 48 hours to develop and in most cases it’s quicker than that. With this in mind you should think about your aftercare and what you have done to cause the infection.

Steps [edit]Be sure that the piercing is infected, and you are not actually allergic to the jewelry.
Make sure that the piercing isn't just irritated. Irritation will make your piercing red, swollen, sore, and it will lymph (have "crusties" and seep) longer and more than normal. Infection will make it red around the piercing and relatively large area of surrounding tissue, sore at the site and inches away, and it will seep dark yellow to green pus. An infection is also usually warm to the touch.
Determine the cause of the infection. What did you use to clean the piercing? Did you wash your hands? How often are you cleaning your piercing? Once you have determined the cause, you can usually make the changes and it should heal.
Mix 1 cup hot, distilled water and 1/8 teaspoon pure sea salt in a small cup. Immerse piercing in solution or dampen cotton wool or tissue with the solution and place on piercing. If using cotton wool or tissue make sure it is sterile! Also, use moderate pressure against the piercing with the wool, even if it may feel hot and uncomfortable. Do this once a day. Do not make the solution stronger - it will only irritate it and slow the healing process. Do not do it more often - this will also irritate it and slow the healing process. The piercing SHOULD drain during and after, no matter how gross it is a good sign.
If the piercing does not begin to improve in a few days, go back to your piercer and ask for more in-depth advice. Infections are very serious. Even if it is just an ear lobe. Don't fool yourself - if it is infected then apparently the LITHA (leave it the hell alone) method doesn't work for you and it won't heal itself.



Tips [edit]You MUST follow your piercer's aftercare. They tell you it for a reason.
If you did a DIY piercing, consult the Association of Professional Piercers webpage (in the external links section) for aftercare instructions.
If you're still in doubt or not confident, then go see your piercer.



Warnings [edit]Infections are serious. You can loose body parts if left untreated. If it spreads to your blood stream you could die. Go see a doctor the minute that your muscles become sore, your glands are swollen, or you get red streaks.
If you cannot see part of the jewelry anymore go directly to a piercer.
Do NOT remove the jewelry - it is the only way that all the pus is going to be able to drain. If you take it out then the infection will be trapped in your body.



Things You'll Need [edit]Pure Sea Salt (regular salt has iodine which is VERY bad for a piercing)
Sterile Cotton buds
Sterile Tissue