How to Clean an Infected Ear Piercing

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Infected ear piercings are common, especially in new piercings. Most go away after one to two weeks, as long as you clean them twice a day. Use a cotton ball or swab soaked in a saline solution or antimicrobial soap to clean the infection, then dry the area with a disposable paper towel. Avoid using alcohol and hydrogen peroxide, as these substances will interfere with healing. See your doctor if the infection spreads, if it doesn't improve within two days, or if you develop a fever. Always wash your hands before touching your piercings, and prevent reinfecting the area by avoiding swimming and sanitizing your cell phone.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning an Infected Piercing at Home

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  1. Always wash your hands well before touching a piercing, especially if it’s new or infected. Use an antimicrobial soap and warm water. Avoid fiddling with your earrings and only touch them when you have to clean them. [1]
  2. If your piercing is new, keep it in place for at least six weeks, even if it becomes infected. [2] While you should rotate a new lobe piercing, stop rotating it if it becomes infected for one to two weeks.
    • Keep the earring in place, even if the piercing is fully healed. Taking the jewelry out can sometimes trap the bacteria in the piercing, causing an abscess. [3] If your jewelry is bothering you, speak to your piercer or a doctor about switching it out.
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  3. Soak a cotton ball in saline solution or a mild antimicrobial soap . Press the soaked ball against the front and back of the infected area. Dry the piercing with disposable paper towels. [4]
    • Use the saline solution your piercing provided at the shop, or purchase a wound wash for piercings . [5]
      • If you don’t have access to sterile saline, use a solution of ⅛ to ¼ tsp (.75 to 1.42 g) iodine-free sea salt dissolved into 8 fluid ounces (240 ml) of warm distilled or bottled water. [6]
    • If you use a soap, choose a fragrance-free brand that doesn’t contain alcohol. Don’t use antibacterial soap.
    • Clean infected ear piercings twice a day, but don’t turn them.
  4. After cleaning and drying the piercing, apply an antibacterial ointment to encourage healing. Dab a small amount of the ointment onto a cotton swab and paint a thin coating over the infected area. [7]
    • If the infection is weeping or emitting a discharge, avoid using ointment. [8]
  5. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide dry out the infected area and kill white blood cells that are needed for healing, which can make the infection even worse. Don’t apply alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to the infection, and make sure any cleaning products you use are alcohol-free. [9]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Seeing a Medical Professional

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  1. Start by cleaning the infection twice a day at home. If the infection worsens or shows no signs of improvement after two days, schedule an appointment with your doctor or visit a healthcare clinic. [10]
  2. Monitor the infection closely during the first day. See a doctor if the infection starts spreading beyond the piercing site or if you develop a fever. These could indicate a more serious infection that will require antibiotic treatment. [11]
  3. Cartilage is a rigid tissue with low blood supply, so infected cartilage piercings are more likely to escalate. If you have a cartilage piercing (ear piercing not on the lobe) speak to a doctor about treatment to prevent long-term damage. [12]
  4. Visit your doctor to have a culture taken of the infection site. This helps identify the type of bacteria that caused the infection. [13]
    • Ask the doctor, “Do you recommend any antibiotics for this infection? What type of antibiotic is most effective for this type of bacterial infection?” [14]
    • Do not wash or clean the piercing for at least 24 hours before seeing a doctor. The doctor needs a swab of the infected ear to diagnose it, and cleaning products can interfere with this test.
  5. Redness, swelling, itchiness, and other signs of infection can also be due to an allergy. If cultures come back negative, talk to your doctor about getting an allergy test. [15]
    • If you’ve never had a piercing before, you might find that you have a metal allergy. You can avoid allergic reactions to piercings by getting nickel-free jewelry, as nickel is the most common metallic allergen.
    • Your doctor may refer you to an allergist for more specialized testing to identify what the allergy might be.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Reinfection

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  1. Always avoid swimming for at least two weeks after getting a new piercing. [16] Stay away from pools, lakes, and ocean water during that time, and clean the piercing with saline solution after taking a shower. [17]
    • Avoid swimming while treating an infected permanent piercing, as well.
  2. If you have long hair, tie it back to keep it away from a new or infected piercing. Wash your hair more often than you ordinarily would, and be careful not to snag the piercing while brushing or styling. [18]
    • Take care not to get hairspray or gel in the piercing.
  3. Remove your phone’s case and clean both the case and the phone using a disinfecting wipe or a lint-free cloth dipped in soapy water. [19] Cell phones are covered in bacteria that can cause infections, so clean your phone regularly.
    • Sanitize any other phones you use.
    • You can also put your phone on speaker when people call. This minimizes how much you touch your ear.
  4. If your piercing is new, keep your first post in for six weeks and wear an earring at all times for six months. After six months, take your earrings out at night to expose the channels to air and prevent infection. [20]
  5. Read reviews on piercing clinics and parlors before visiting. Make sure that the parlor is licensed. When you go to get a new ear piercing, watch to see that the staff wears latex gloves and ask if they have the proper machinery for sterilizing their equipment.
    • It is not a good idea to get pierced at night markets or abroad while on vacation.
    • Don’t pierce your ears at home, as you need proper sterilization equipment.
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      Warnings

      • While rare, Hepatitis C can be contracted through piercings done with non-sterile equipment. [21] Symptoms include bleeding, bruising, itchy skin, fatigue, yellow skin and eyes, and swelling in your legs. [22]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/news/its-easy-for-piercings-to-become-infected
      2. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
      3. ↑ ​​ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      4. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
      5. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      6. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      7. ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
      8. ↑ http://woundcaresociety.org/drain-infected-ear-piercing
      9. ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-pierced-ears
      1. ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
      2. ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/
      4. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/
      5. ↑ [v161902_b01]. 19 July 2021.
      6. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/piercings/art-20047317
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1781501/
      8. ↑ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      9. ↑ ​​ https://safepiercing.org/aftercare/
      10. ↑ https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-sanitize-your-phone-and-other-devices
      11. ↑ http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/library/pediatric_health/hhg_teen_pierced-ear/
      12. ↑ http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/news/hepatitis-c-and-body-piercing/
      13. ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/dxc-20207369

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Before you clean your infected ear piercing, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Then, soak a cotton ball in saline solution or a mild antimicrobial soap. Gently dab the cotton ball around the infected area, and dry it with a paper towel. You can then apply some antibiotic ointment with a cotton swab, which will promote healing. If your piercing is more than 6 weeks old, you can remove your earring to clean the infected piercing. However, you should leave your earring in place if the piercing is less than 6 weeks old, even if it’s infected. For information on how to tell when your infected ear piercing warrants medical attention, read on!

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