The problem of jewelry migration and rejection is compounded by wearing heavily weighted, thin-gauge jewelry. An additional concern arises with genital piercings that can compromise the integrity of barrier contraception and increase the risk for sexually transmitted infections. Facial piercings can also be more difficult to heal for anyone around a lot of dust, dirt, or cigarette smoke. Any suspected infection should be treated. Its pain that gets worse or doesnt go away that you want to watch out for. Recent reports13,14 of bacterial endocarditis after nipple and navel piercings in patients with surgically corrected congenital heart disease should prompt physicians to consider antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with moderate- or high-risk cardiac conditions. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. The jewelry starts to hang or droop differently. Often infection is treatable with antibiotics, though sometimes the piercing will need to be removed entirely. [2], Rare reports exist of other infections including but are not limited to hepatitis Bvirus, hepatitis Cvirus, human immunodeficiency virus, and tetanus. Wash your hands before touching or cleaning your piercing. Infected Ear Piercing: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention - Cleveland Clinic Step 3: Dont attempt to use antibiotic ointments, hydrogen peroxide, and even alcohol, as this will only irritate your skin and worsen the infection. Of course, if you accidentally irritate your new piercing youll probably experience some pain. Also, dont have a piercing performed with a piercing gun on any part of your body except your ear. Most healthcare and piercing professionals caution against using alcohol, antibiotic ointments, or hydrogen peroxide, as they can irritate the skin and slow healing. Keloid scars occur when the skin overreacts to the injury, after which they grow and darken. Eyebrow piercing: treatment, pain, complications and PHOTOS. If lingual jewelry cannot be removed easily or expeditiously, precautions should be taken during intubation to ensure that jewelry is not loosened and aspirated or swallowed. health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health How do I know if I'm allergic to the metal in my piercing jewelry? Look for jewelry made of titanium, 14-carat gold, or surgical-grade steel. Dont Miss: How To Beat A Sinus Infection Without Antibiotics. Does your babys ear-piercing appear to be infected? The navel or periumbilical area is a popular self-piercing site. If the hole has closed, the ear lobe can be repierced in a nonscarred area after approximately three months.27 Various closure techniques have been described in the literature28 for more complex lacerations of ear cartilage. Can you put regular antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, in your eye All rights reserved. Did the piercer use appropriate equipment, technique, and jewelry? Read Also: Best Antibiotic For Finger Infection. Some people react to the metal in the piercing object. It may also be a cosmetic concern. Pointed earring posts may cause pressure sores or postauricular skin irritation when worn during sleep. When piercing the cartilage, the piercing gun will force a stud through the skin surface, and this will cause the skin to rip for it to make room for the jewelry, thus exposes it to trauma, and the chances of getting an infected cartilage piercing. Treatment for infected piercings You may need antibiotics if your piercing is infected. Ear piercing infection treatment may include: Applying a warm compress to the infected earlobe or cartilage. One of the primary reasons why the infected cartilage piercing has developed a bubble is because it was handled in a rough manner, and no aftercare was practiced at all. Treatment for genital piercing infections should include theconsideration to cover for Neisseria gonorrheaand Chlamydia trachomatis with intramuscular ceftriaxone and oral azithromycin in the appropriatesetting aside from the standard soft tissue infections. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with People should consider the risk of another piercing rejection before getting pierced again. How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing - Verywell Health Jessicas pediatrician diagnosed a mild case of a bacterial skin infection known as cellulitis, and gave her a prescription for an antibiotic, cephalexin, along with the standard precautions. Piercing your eyelids can cause excessive bleeding, which can be challenging to stop. What antibiotics can I use for my infected eyebrow piercing? Apply a warm compress Trapped fluid under the skin can cause a bump, but heat and pressure will help gradually drain it. Ideally, clean the area with a sterile saline solution or a product recommended by a professional piercer. (2017, September 18). privacy practices. If you have a nickel sensitivity, you may not be able to handle jewelry made of nickel-laden metals. Family physicians should help patients make informed decisions about body piercings and counsel them about the importance of universal precautions. Doing so can crush the skin and cause more injury than a piercing performed with a hollow needle. Despite this, when everything is going smoothly, the bleeding should clear up relatively quickly. Antibiotic ointment: After cleaning the piercing, apply a light layer of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream like Neosporin or Bacitracin. If you experience any of the following symptoms, then it signifies you should contact a doctor: As long as your infection is minor, you may be able to take care of it at home. Applying a topical antibiotic ointment recommended by a dermatologist can be a great way to help heal the infected area. 08 of 09 Apply a Warm Water Compress @mariatash If the area around your piercing is too painful or swollen to move, you could have an infection. Treatment options for keloids include surgical excision, intralesional corticosteroid injections, cryosurgery, pressure dressing, radiation, and laser therapy.22,23. Dilute 50/50 with water if irritation occurs. Don't miss our tips on how to choose the perfect shape and color for your eyebrows to enhance your face. Of all the body sites commonly pierced, the navel is the most likely to become infected because of its shape. Keeping a piercing clean is vital for healing and preventing infection. No . information submitted for this request. Her heart rate was normal, 86 beats per minute. The skin version is toxic to the cornea so I would not use it in the eye as the package labeling suggests. Use a saltwater rinse three times per day to clean the area around the piercing. We avoid using tertiary references. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol because they are too harsh and will kill the good bacteria.