Earrings are a great way to show who you are, but sometimes they have side effects like an infection. If you think your ear is infected, talk to your doctor first for advice. Keep the hole itself clean to help promote the healing process. Cartilage cavities in the ear are especially prone to serious infections and unsightly scars, so it's very important that you see your doctor right away if you suspect you have an infection. While the hole heals, be careful not to injure and irritate the infected area. Within a few weeks, your ear should look normal again.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Getting medical help
Step 1. See your doctor immediately if you think you have an infection
Serious complications can arise if an ear infection is not treated. If your ear hurts, is red and oozes pus, make an appointment with your doctor.
- An inflamed hole in the ear may be red and swollen. The area may be sore, tender, throbbing and warm to the touch.
- Have your doctor examine your ear if there is pus or other fluid coming out of the hole. The pus may be yellow or white in color.
- If you have a fever, see a doctor right away. This is a serious sign of an infection.
- Usually the cavities become inflamed within 2-4 weeks of having them pierced, but it is possible to get an infection even years after having them pierced.
Step 2. Leave the earring in your ear unless your doctor tells you otherwise
Removing the earring from your ear can disrupt the healing process and can lead to an abscess. So leave the earring in your ear until your doctor has examined you.
- Do not touch, spin or play with your earring while it is still in your ear.
- Your doctor will tell you if you can leave the earring in your ear. If your doctor decides that the earring needs to be removed from your ear, he or she will remove it from your ear himself. Don't put your earring back in your ear until your doctor says you can.
Step 3. Apply an antibiotic ointment to lightly infected areas on your earlobe
Your doctor can give you a prescription for an ointment or recommend an over-the-counter remedy. Apply to the infected area according to your doctor's instructions.
Some over-the-counter ointments and creams you can use are Betadine and Bacitracin
Step 4. In case of a more serious infection, take prescription pills
If you have a fever and a serious infection, your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic in the form of pills. Take the pills according to your doctor's instructions. Remember to finish the full course of antibiotics even if the infection seems to have cleared up.
Pills are usually needed if you have a hole in your cartilage that has become infected
Step 5. Have an abscess punctured that has developed
An abscess is a wound with a large amount of pus in it. If you have an abscess, your doctor will puncture it and drain the fluid. This is an outpatient treatment that may be performed during your first appointment.
Your doctor may place a warm compress on your ear to drain the pus from the abscess, or make an incision in the abscess
Step 6. Have surgery to fix a serious infection of the cartilage
A hole in your cartilage carries more risks than a hole in your earlobe. If you have a hole in your cartilage that has become infected, see your doctor as soon as possible. In the case of a severe infection of the cartilage, the cartilage may have to be surgically removed.
The cartilage is the thicker tissue in the upper part of the outer ear and is located above your earlobe
Part 2 of 3: Using home remedies
Step 1. Wash your hands before touching the infected area
Your hands can spread dirt and bacteria that can make the infection worse. Before cleaning or treating the area, wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap.
Step 2. Remove the pus from your ear with a cotton swab
Dampen the tip of the swab with antibacterial soap or saline. Gently wipe all moisture and soft pus from your ear with the cotton swab. However, do not remove scabs, as they will heal your ear.
Discard the swab when you're done. If both ears are infected, use a new swab on both ears
Step 3. Clean the infected area with a saline solution
To make a saline solution, mix half a teaspoon (3 grams) of salt with 250 ml of warm water. Dip a sterile cotton ball or gauze pad in the saline solution and gently run it over both sides of your ear where the hole is. Do this twice a day to keep the area clean.
- The spot may sting a little if you use a saline solution. It shouldn't hurt much though. If so, call your doctor.
- Do not apply rubbing alcohol and alcohol-based products to the infected area, as they can irritate the area and prevent it from healing.
- Afterwards, gently pat the area dry with a paper towel, tissue or cotton swab. Do not use a towel, as this can irritate your ear.
- If both ears are infected, use a new swab or gauze on both ears.
Step 4. Place a warm compress on your ear to help ease the pain
Soak a washcloth with warm water or warm saline. Hold the compress against your ear for 3-4 minutes. Do this several times a day as needed to ease the pain.
Dry your ear gently afterwards by dabbing it with a paper towel or tissue
Step 5. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help control the pain
Ibuprofen (including Advil) and paracetamol can help to temporarily relieve the pain. Swallow the medicine according to the directions on the package and in the package leaflet.
Part 3 of 3: Protecting your ear
Step 1. Do not touch your ear or earring unless necessary
Do not touch your ear if you do not clean it and leave the earring in your ear. Also, don't let your infected ear come into contact with clothing and devices such as phones.
- Don't wear headphones until your infection has cleared.
- Do not use your phone on the side of your head that is infected. If both ears are infected, put your phone on the speaker to use it.
- If you have long hair, tie your hair in a bun or ponytail so it doesn't hang past your ears.
- Do not sleep on your infected ear, if at all possible. Keep your sheets and pillowcase clean to prevent the infection from spreading.
Step 2. Stop swimming until the hole has healed and the infection is gone
In general, you should not swim for up to 6 weeks after having the holes pierced. If the hole has become infected, wait until the infection is completely gone and the hole has healed itself.
Step 3. Opt for hypoallergenic earrings if you have a nickel allergy
Your doctor may diagnose you with a nickel allergy rather than an infection. In this case, wear earrings made of sterling silver, gold, surgical steel and other materials that do not contain nickel. This will make you less likely to have an allergic reaction.
- Because of your allergy, the skin around the hole can become dry, red and itchy.
- By continuing to wear nickel earrings if you are allergic to them, you are more likely to get another infection.
Warnings
- If the cartilage in your ear is infected, see a doctor as soon as possible. Scar tissue can form on the infected cartilage if you don't get the area treated quickly by a doctor.
- Do not try to treat an infection at home without having the affected area examined by a doctor. A staph infection (the most common type of skin infection) can have serious consequences if left untreated.