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Know the signs and what to do when you piercings become infected.
Sergey Narevskih / Stocksy
Piercings are a great way to express yourself but they often require attentive aftercare.
Sergey Narevskih / Stocksy
Regular cleaning and following your piercers instructions are essential to make it avoid an infection.
Meet the Experts
What Causes a Piercing Infection?
The second most common would benose piercings," says Dr. Zalka.
Nickel allergies are common and can lead to irritation.
In this case, you’d be smart to opt for jewelry made in niobium or titanium.
You may also be allergic to other types of metals, even if they don’t contain nickel.
If you think you’re experiencing an allergic reaction to your jewelry, don’t remove the piercing.
“Some people react to the metal in the piercing object.
This can happen to those with a nickel allergy.”
What Is the Best Antibacterial Medicine for an Ear Piercing?
They may prescribe oral antibiotics to treat the infection.
What can I put on an infected ear piercing?
Dr. Chang recommends avoiding alcohol and hydrogen peroxide as those can lead to additional irritation.
Some infections can heal with extra careallowing you to keep your new jewelry.
Don’t Touch
Not touching your piercing is an essential part ofaftercare.
It is especially recommended to not manipulate it if you have an infection.
Only manipulate the piercing site when cleaning it.
Otherwise, leave it alone to allow it to heal.
In this case, always keep your hands clean before touching.
“If touching the area, confirm to wash your hands thoroughly beforehand,” she says.
Clean the area and do asea salt soaktwice a day.
In other words, treat it the same way you would a brand-new piercing.
Just verify the cloth is not burning hot.
Keep the compress on for 20 to 30 minutes and repeat as needed.
“Improvement in redness, warmth, pain, and drainage suggests that the infected site is healed.
Advanced infections may require jewelry removal and antibiotic treatment.
In doubt, always consult a doctor.
Only your doctor can assess the severity of your infection and determine the best treatment for you.
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Preslar D, Borger J. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Nguyen R, Khanna NR, Safadi AO, et al.
[Updated 2024 Jun 8].
In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536993/
Piercing precautions: Get the facts.
Cleveland Clinic.Infected ear piercing.
