Q&A for How to Treat Infected Piercings

Take care of your body—don't drink heavily or stay up late the night before the piercing. If you treat your body poorly right before you get a piercing, there's a chance your healing could be compromised.

The small bump might be a keloid, which is a tiny mound of scar tissue. Talk to a doctor or dermatologist about removing it, since they're difficult to treat on your own.

If it has been swollen ever since you got it 3 weeks ago, visit a doctor to get an antibiotic prescription. If it's suddenly swelling several weeks later, it may just be a minor infection--clean it 3 times a day with saline and apply a little bit of antibiotic ointment after each cleaning until the swelling goes away.

The iodized salt is harsh on piercings and may irritate it or delay healing. The added iodine will kill germs, but also healthy new cells that are healing the piercing wound.

Minor infections can happen at any time, even if the piercings are older or healed. It might be from germs on your hands or on a dirty pillowcase, microorganisms in swimming water, or maybe you were just run down and your immune system couldn't fight off bacteria like normal.

If the infection isn't going away, visit your doctor ASAP for an antibiotic prescription. Until then, clean it 3 times a day with sterile saline and apply an antibiotic ointment to the skin around the piercing to keep the infection from spreading.

Don't use peroxide. You're trying to heal the piercing. When you use peroxide, you're breaking down the flesh and skin that is trying to grow back and heal after the trauma (piercing).

No! You actually have to leave the jewelry in until the infection goes away. If you take it out, the hole may close up and trap the bacteria inside of you. Leaving the jewelry in allows you to access the infection without worry about the hole closing up.

See your piercer, because they can assist you better than Internet. You should also visit a doctor if you think it might be the beginning of an infection.

If you just got it pierced, blood and a yellow crust/puss is completely normal just for the first two weeks. Wash with warm sea salt water 3 times a day, and wash two times a day for the next couple weeks.

It probably is a hypertrophic scarring. It's common in piercings. You may stick to saline soaks twice a day. If your piercing is healed, dilute a small drop of tea tree oil in the soak. If your piercing is fresh, avoid that, since this product is rather harsh.

Apply warm/hot water mixed with a teaspoon of uniodized salt (kosher salt, sea salt, etc.). You can also use antibacterial soap and a little antibacterial cream to help kill the infection.

Yes, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if you have an infection.

That likely means your body is rejecting the piercing. It can cause lots of scar tissue and I suggest taking it out right away. At the very least, consult your piercer and/or doctor for their recommendation.

Add 1/8 - 1/4 tsp of non-iodized salt (try sea salt) to 8 oz. of warm water. Clean twice a day at the most as over-cleaning it may irritate your piercing. If it does not show improvement after a day or two, contact your piercer or doctor for advice.

You can put the water inside a small bottle or shot gloss and press it against your belly.

If it is infected, yes. Avoid using antibiotic creams if your piercing is not infected. Your body can "get used" to it and in case of a real infection, the cream would end up being ineffective.

Don't wait for the infection to go away; begin treating it immediately. If the infection lasts for more than 48 hours after treatment, or if you develop a fever, see your doctor immediately.

If you can see the jewelry through the skin, as in you can completely see where the bar is, then you should talk to your piercer. You might have a piercing that is rejecting and migrating, which could require removal. (Otherwise the piercing might push through your skin.)

You need to take it out; it's trying to heal into your skin and that's bad. Take it out, clean it with saline solution, and use neosporin. If you are unable to take the piercing out yourself, go to the doctor.

Continue to clean your piercing regularly. If the cyst does not go away or reduce in size over the next few days, consult your doctor.

Its likely you may need a bigger bar, because nipples swell when you get them pierced. Go back to your piercer if it gets worse.

Pop the bubble but put alcohol on it right away. See a doctor if it fails to heal.

If the pus is not greenish/smelly, no, it's not an infection. It's probably lymph, which is a sign of healing. Just do saline soaks 1-2 times a day with the right proportion and rinse it after. Or just rinse it in the shower and leave it alone.

Clean it with warm soap and water, keep it dry and covered, and apply Neosporin.

Yes, this is just the body getting used to a hole in your ear and a foreign object in it. This happens with all piercings. You can use a cold compress to reduce swelling.

It's likely still healing. It actually takes quite a while to heal (mostly 2 months, though up to 8 months is usual).

No, and ask your piercer, as it will depend on the piercing you have as to how long you should leave it in and when you can take it out.

If you've followed all the steps here to no avail, go to your doctor for antibiotics.

Take the jewelry out clean the piercing good with some alcohol and try a salt water soak for your ear.