Q&A for How to Treat an Infected Ear Piercing

You may be experiencing symptoms of atopic dermatitis or allergic metal contact dermatitis, which increase the risk for developing bacterial skin infections. If the symptoms are intense, don’t resolve within couple of days or worsen, see your medical provider for further evaluation.

A piercing can be sore until it heals. Be sure to keep it clean and follow your piercer's instructions. You can also try a warm compress or an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you have redness, soreness, or pus, contact your healthcare provider to make sure that you don't have an infection.

A honey-colored crust around your new piercing is a part of the normal healing process. Is not an infection if you don't have pus, redness, or pain.

Superficial earlobe infections tend to have a benign course and respond well to local treatment, including warm, moist packs and application of over-the-counter topical antibiotic ointment. Treatment with 2 percent mupirocin ointment (Bactroban) or oral antistaphylococcal antibiotics may be warranted if symptoms of redness and tenderness don’t resolve with conservative measures such as warm compresses and OTC antibiotic ointment.