When you visit an ear piercing studio, you want to make sure that the piercer discusses the issue of possible infection with you so that you know what to expect. Of course, with proper after-piercing care, you can prevent infections from arising in the wound. Cartilage piercing, like other forms of piercing, it creates a wound that takes time to heal. Before the healing, if you don’t clean the site properly and maintain high level of hygiene, it could be infected. Cartilage ear piercing infection occurs when bacteria invade the open wound and begin to attack the tissue.
The body will try to ward off the infectious microbes like bacteria, but then it may be overwhelmed resulting in a serious infection. If infections occur, they typically do so during the early period of the healing process. This is the time when the wound resulting from the cartilage piercing hasn’t still closed or when it is still open. It can take some time before you have your piercing fully healed, probably about three or so months and depending on the level of care you take on the wound.
Infection on the pierced cartilage can grow and spread from the tissue above the cartilage to the cartilage itself. When this happens, it may cause a lot of complications and pain. It also makes it difficult to treat. You may also develop an unsightly bump around the area of piercing because of the infection, but the formation of the bump doesn’t always indicate an infection. It may be something else like a keloid scar.
Causes
At times, an infection will develop even when you have taken all the instructions regarding after-piercing care and proper cleaning. Bacteria are present on our skin’s surface and while at times, they remain there without causing harm, if they find entry point to the body tissue, they can quickly become harmful by causing an infection. Most of the times, you can prevent the cartilage piercing infections. That being said, here are the reasons you may develop an infection on your cartilage piercing:
Unsanitary conditions: When you get to the studio for a cartilage piercing, you want to ensure that the piercer is reputable and observes all the measures to make sure the piercing is done properly. The equipment he or she uses should also be properly sterilized, for example, the needles. When doing the piercing, the piercer should clean their hands, sterilized the area to be pierced, and wear gloves. Many objects and even body parts tend to harbor bacteria that can easily be passed on to the site. If you are going to have your cartilage piercing done in unsanitary conditions, you risk having an infection.
Touching the piercing: You or your friends may be tempted to touch the piercing site, and it can be a big mistake you make if you allow it to happen. Let no one, not even you attempt to touch the area. You could easily allow an infection. Whenever you are cleaning the cartilage piercing, ensure you thoroughly wash and disinfect your hands to minimize the risk of an infection.
Improper aftercare: Once a piercer has done the piercing, he or she should provide you with aftercare tips and instructions. You need to know how you are going to take care of the wound until it heals completely. Don’t assume all is well and don’t overlook the suggestions or products you are asked to use. Use saline or salty water when you want to soak and clean the piercing. Also, wash the jewelry using water and soap and rinse properly.
Wearing inappropriate jewelry: When choosing jewelry to wear on your new cartilage piercing, you want to use one that is friendly to your skin. Some jewelry will irritate the skin and make it susceptible to infection even with small amounts of bacteria. There are bacteria everywhere including the site of piercing. Sometimes, even without abnormal number of bacteria, you may find that the body can’t fight the microbes. Irritation caused by cheap jewelry will increase the chances of having an infection. Look for a jewelry that is designed of steel, gold, or titanium. With these metals, they don’t easy cause reactions with the skin.
Injury of the piercing: You may accidentally or out of carelessness injure the piercing. If you are fond of touching the piercing, which is not advisable, anyway, you may likely injure the site. Having an injury on a piercing site increases the likelihood of an infection by bacteria.
Allergy reaction: Some people may develop allergy reaction after having a piercing on their ear cartilage. This may cause itchiness and reddening of the area. The tissue and surrounding areas may become inflamed. Allergy slows down the healing of the wound and it can make you have an infection, especially if you scratch the wound.
Symptoms and Signs of Infected Cartilage Piercing
It is important that you know the signs of an infection on a piercing because it helps you seek treatment early enough. If an infection is caught early, you can prevent further complications by seeking medical treatment. The following symptoms and signs are associated with cartilage piercing infections:
Red, tender skin: If the skin is red and it hurts after touching it, it may indicate that there is an infection. Having an infection around the piercing makes the skin to feel hot when you touch it. When the body’s immune cells are fighting infection, you may find that the body temperature is elevated. During the first days after having the piercing, it is normal to have red, tender skin. It is part of the cartilage piercings’ healing process. Sometimes, you find that the initial redness goes away, and it comes back. At other times, the initial redness doesn’t actually subside and it continues to worsen over time. That could mean there is an infection.
Discharge from the piercing: You may have the cartilage piercing draining some clear fluid and forming crusts at it continues to heal. That is expected and pretty normal. However, if you have discharge draining from the site and it is green or yellowish, it indicates pus, and it’s a sign of infection.
Prolonged bleeding: In the first few days after your new piercing, you will notice some blood coming from the site. That is also expected and it should go away in a few days as the healing process continues. However, if you see that the wound continues to release blood, it may indicate there is an infection. The blood may be accompanied by a discharge.
An infected cartilage piercing may also present with symptoms like itching and burning sensation, ongoing pain, and swelling.
Infected Ear Cartilage Piercing – Treatment
As a rule of thumb, don’t try removing the jewelry when treating an infected cartilage piercing. Keeping the jewelry in the site of piercing allows the wound to drain thus flushing out harmful bacteria. For mild infections, don’t use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or antibiotic ointments because they can further cause irritation to the skin and impair the healing process.
For moderate to serious infections, while also using the aftercare tips and suggestions like saline solutions and salt water to clean the site, you also want to do the following:
Double up on salt water soaks: Continue cleaning the infected piercing, and ensure you increase the amounts of soaks you make using salt water or saline solution. After all, cleaning the area properly is the first line of defense against harmful bacteria and the subsequent infections. You can use warm salt water or saline solution because it helps to soothe the area.
Warm compresses: Soak gauze in some warm salt water and gently apply on the affected area. You can use a clean, warm cloth soaked with warm salt water to apply a warm compression on the affected site. A chamomile tea bag steeped in some hot water may also work. When applying, make sure it isn’t too hot; allow it to cool to a point where it is comfortable when you apply on the piercing. Chamomile has great healing properties and helps fight bacteria. Salt helps with cleaning and reducing inflammation. The warmth allows blood to flow to the tissue and cartilage and promote natural healing.
Cold compresses: You can also use cold compresses by alternating with warm compresses. It will allow circulation to the cartilage area for hastened healing process.
Use tea tree oil: This product has antibacterial properties to help fight infection and reduce inflammation. Mix two drops of tea tree oil with some carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil and gently apply onto the cartilage piercing. Try this about three times every day until you get relief.
Antibacterial sprays: You can use an antibacterial spray like Bactine to fight bacteria. There are also antibiotic ointments that you can use to ward off bacteria and prevent draining of the wound.
When cleaning the new piercing, make sure that you do it both sides. After cleaning, pat dry the area using paper towels and refrain from using materials that leave behind fiber debris on the wound.
If you find that the infection on cartilage piercing isn’t going away, you can visit a doctor. If not checked, infections can spread to other parts of the ear causing a lot of damage. Stronger antibiotics may be required to fight the bacteria.
Even when the symptoms have subsided, you want to continue with the treatment until you see that the infection has cleared out. After that, you can revert to the normal cleaning and aftercare process so that another infection doesn’t occur.
Prevention of Cartilage Piercing Infections
Infections tend to prolong the healing time and at times, you may have pain and discomfort. You can prevent infections by avoiding touching the site with unclean hands or playing around and twisting the piercing because it injures the healing tissue. Use saline solution as required to clean the piercing until it heals completely. When sleeping, make sure that the piercing isn’t pressed against the mattress or pillow.
While cartilage piercing may develop an infection, that shouldn’t make you panic. Using these home remedies can help clear the infection. Hot and cold compresses, antibiotics administered by a doctor, and tea tree oil remedies can do away with most of the infections, if they do occur.
