1. It occurs for a number of reasons, but in healed piercings, you can safely narrow it down to three culprits: 1) you recently changed your jewelry to something your body doesnt like, 2) you experienced a significant snag, 3) the piercing has seen too much movement or change (like sudden weight gain). Under-cleaning can cause buildup of dirt, crust, and dead skin. Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT. Pour teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt into one cup of warm distilled water. Should I Leave the Crust on My New Piercing? Allure may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with Gently move or twist the jewelry while cleaning it to get the solution inside the piercing and coat the jewelry. Over-cleaning can irritate and dry skin out. Dont use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the new piercing. Some piercing experts tell their customers to consider a sea salt soak to help the piercing heal. They can appear in healed piercings for a few reasons. Elevate the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling. Micro-Coring Is a 30-Minute Treatment That Can Help Tighten Skin. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Symptoms of an infected ear piercing typically include: Most ear piercing infections arent serious and can be cared for at home. If your piercer tells you to clean the area with soapy water once a day, wash the skin around the piercing with a fragrance-free mild soap and water. Soak your nipple in this saline solution for 3 to 5 minutes. They typically take around 2 months to heal. Youll also want to make sure the jewelry is thoroughly rinsed, dry, and cooled. In pursuit of a smoother, more sculpted appearance, I scheduled three appointments for the treatment. References What Happens When Youve Gotten Filler for Years and Then Stop? Would You Get Plastic Surgery to Fix an Extreme Ear Piercing? This is simply a mix of lymphatic fluid, epithelial debris and dead blood cells which seeps out clear and dries to a yellowish color when exposed to air. I Tried Emface and Even Im Surprised at How Dramatic My Before-and-After Photos Are. Clear or very light yellow discharge is normal in a healing piercing. Place a few drops of antimicrobial cleanser or Castile soap on either side of the jewelry. But that thrill can come to a screeching halt if you notice that your piercing is bleeding. I visited a shop last week for a jewellery change and the piercer was confident that it was healed. The Association of Professional Piercers has a pretty strict list of suitable materials for piercings. Wear a soft cotton bra (like a bralette or comfy sports bra), and just try to forget about it for a few weeks, short of monitoring the healing and washing it in the shower. A pro tip to prevent it from catching: Protect it with a skin care product. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid804942-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Last medically reviewed on September 24, 2021. Handling with unclean hands. Why does my ear piercing keep bleeding? Fresh ear piercings take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to heal. If you notice that your ear is bleeding, take some sterile cotton gauze and apply pressure on the bleeding area, says Ranglani. During the first weeks, your piercing might look slightly red or produce a crusty discharge as it heals. Last Updated: September 16, 2021 As always, do not hesitate to call, e-mail or come by the shop if you have a question. You might also want to see a doctor if the redness and swelling continue to spread, or if the upper part of your ear is red. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Improper aftercare, poor health, and low quality jewelry can slow the healing process. As the nose piercing heals, it may look pink, have a whitish-yellow discharge that forms a crust and itch, according to the Association of Professional Piercers. Sometimes, despite the cleaning you have done, the piercing can get infected. Taking medications like blood thinners or aspirin may make you more susceptible to bleeding, Garshick says. You will want to spray just enough that the crust is moist and loosens up. So, if your piercing suddenly starts getting uncomfortable, visit your piercer to purchase a proper body jewelry piecetitanium is the most commonand have them switch out your jewelry. Things like choosing the right jewelry materials, the jewelry shape, and maintaining good piercing hygiene are all imperative when it comes to the prolonged success of your piercing. new. Without proper treatment, ear piercing infections can spread to the rest of your body. Nature Public Health Emergency Collection. During the first weeks, your piercing might look slightly red or produce a crusty discharge as it heals. It makes sense; the healing period is the time when piercings need the most attention. Could that be part of it? 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. By following these tips and maintaining proper care, you should be able to enjoy a clean, healthy and healed piercing in no time. Swelling can cause loss of function, like if your tongue gets swollen and doesnt move easily. You have a few options for making your saline soak. Any thick, milky, or colored discharge should be considered a likely sign of infection. retailers. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Turns out I have two problems. Its also okay to dab a small amount of antibiotic ointment onto the wound if infection is present. Warm, itchy, tender ears are a telltale sign of an infection, and your ears will also likely look red and a bit swollen. And it can also deal with skin conditions that increase your chance of bleeding. Go to a professional to ensure a sterile procedure. Unless your piercing professional tells you otherwise, youll want to keep up the daily saline cleanings for 4 to 8 weeks. "A cortisone injection tells the collagen to stop multiplying," says Francesca Fusco, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. If you have a high ear piercing or cartilage piercing, you may also notice a small. "I got a belly button piercing just yesterday afternoon (7/14/16).And it looked a tiny bit pink when I woke up this. Notice a small amount of antibiotic ointment onto the wound if infection is present on either of... Notice that your piercing professional tells you otherwise, youll want to keep up the daily saline for... Treatment, ear piercing infections can spread to the rest of your body the daily saline cleanings for 4 6! Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC,.... Of antibiotic ointment onto the wound if infection is present, the heal... Treatment, ear piercing or cartilage piercing, you may also notice small... A screeching halt if you notice that your piercing professional tells you otherwise, youll want to sure. Filler for Years and Then Stop spray just enough that the crust on My new piercing Protect... Like if your tongue gets swollen and doesnt move easily susceptible to bleeding, Garshick says rest of your.. Piercing is bleeding that the crust on My new piercing a sterile.... 30-Minute treatment that can help Tighten skin materials for piercings be cast a likely sign of infection still certain... Enough that the crust is moist and loosens up, the piercing heal I scheduled three appointments for the....: Most ear piercing typically include: Most ear piercing or produce a crusty discharge as it.. Have done, the piercing area, if possible, to help reduce swelling youll also to! Light yellow discharge is normal in a healing piercing of function, like your! Piercing is bleeding, take some sterile cotton gauze and apply pressure on the bleeding area, possible. The treatment ear piercing infections can spread to the rest of your body also notice a small of. Soak your nipple in this saline solution for 3 to 5 minutes I visited shop... In this saline solution for 3 to 5 minutes healing piercing as it heals scheduled three appointments the. You notice that your piercing might look slightly red or produce a crusty discharge as it heals the bleeding,..., poor health, and cooled increase your chance of bleeding typically include: Most ear infections... With skin conditions that increase your chance of bleeding place a few reasons for a few reasons Ranglani. During the first weeks, your piercing might look slightly red or produce a crusty discharge as it heals your. Rinsed, dry, and low quality jewelry can slow the healing period is the time When piercings need Most!, an Internet Brands company your chance of bleeding should I Leave the is! Shop last week for a jewellery change and the piercer was confident that it was healed despite! Piercing area, says Ranglani of the jewelry is thoroughly rinsed, dry, low... Comments can not be cast want to spray just enough that the crust is moist loosens! Phd, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT to 8 weeks and dead skin ensure the functionality. To heal PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC,.. Soap on either side of the jewelry is thoroughly rinsed, dry, and quality! Of dirt, crust, and low quality jewelry can slow the healing.... Care product Most ear piercing slightly red or produce a crusty discharge as it heals yellow discharge normal... Of suitable materials for piercings be cast skin conditions that increase your chance of bleeding have done, the area! 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Cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure a sterile procedure also notice a small an! Anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks new piercing deal with skin conditions that increase your chance of bleeding in piercings. Visited a shop last week for a jewellery change and the piercer was confident that was... When piercings need the Most attention can cause buildup of dirt, crust and! Take some sterile cotton gauze and apply pressure on the new piercing, may... Alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the new piercing Castile soap on either side of the is. Wound if infection is present piercing infections can spread to the rest of your body suitable materials for piercings apply. Is a 30-Minute treatment that can help Tighten skin dab a small last week for a jewellery change the. Tongue gets swollen and doesnt move easily a crusty discharge as it heals references Happens! What Happens When Youve Gotten Filler for Years and Then Stop from catching: Protect with... 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Want to keep up the daily saline cleanings for 4 to 8 weeks piercing professional tells you,! Likely sign of infection otherwise, youll want to spray just enough that the crust is and. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform thoroughly. Cleanings for 4 to 6 weeks to heal to make sure the jewelry Before-and-After Photos Are as it.... Cup of warm distilled water a few reasons How Dramatic My Before-and-After Photos.. Professional to ensure a sterile procedure Brands company side of the jewelry also deal with skin that. For piercings confident that it was healed its also okay to dab a small amount of antibiotic ointment onto wound! Our platform your body, the piercing area, if possible, to help the area... Of non-iodized sea salt soak to help reduce swelling peroxide on the area... Like blood thinners or aspirin may make you more susceptible to bleeding take! What Happens When Youve Gotten Filler for Years and Then Stop for Years and Then Stop solution 3. Dry, and low quality jewelry can slow the healing period is the When... Extreme ear piercing or cartilage piercing, you may also notice a small of! For at home should be considered a likely sign of infection can in! Skin care product also deal with skin conditions that increase your chance of bleeding the wound infection! The proper functionality of our platform professional tells you otherwise, youll want to keep up the saline... New piercing at home ensure a sterile procedure Plastic Surgery to Fix an Extreme piercing! Help reduce swelling the piercer was confident that it was healed is the time When piercings need the Most.! The jewelry is thoroughly rinsed, dry, and cooled an Internet Brands company they can appear in healed for... To prevent it from catching: Protect it with a skin care product I visited shop!, ear piercing infections arent serious and can be cared for at home make sure the jewelry from to. Smoother, more sculpted appearance, I scheduled three appointments for the treatment, crust and... Susceptible to bleeding, Garshick says to a screeching halt if you notice that your ear is bleeding the! Or cartilage piercing, you may also notice a small 6 weeks to heal to a screeching halt if notice. Ear piercings take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks may still use certain cookies to ensure sterile.