Care Advice

Minor Infection in Newly Pierced Ear in Last 6 Weeks

What You Should Know About Infections in Newly Pierced Ears:

• Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home.
• With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Treating New Pierced Ear Infections (during first 6 weeks):

• Don't take out the earring! Clean the infected area 3 times a day.
• Wash hands with soap and water before touching the ear or earring.
• Use a cotton swab dipped in pierced ear solution (see below).
• Clean exposed earring (both sides). Also, clean the ear lobe.
• Then turn the earring 3 times. Reason: to prevent the skin from sticking to the post.

Pierced Ear Solution:

• You may have gotten pierced ear solution when your ears were pierced.
• If not, you can buy it in most drugstores. No prescription needed.
• It often contains benzalkonium chloride which kills germs.
• It doesn't sting like rubbing alcohol.

Antibiotic Ointment:

• After cleaning, use an antibiotic ointment to the area (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed.
• Do this after cleaning the earlobe and turning the earring. Do this 3 times per day.
• Keep doing this until drainage and redness are gone for 2 days.

What to Expect:

• With proper care, most mild earlobe infections will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
• Infections often return unless you do daily earring care.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Ear not improved after 3 days
• Infection not gone by 2 weeks
• Fever occurs
• Spreading redness occurs
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Minor Infection in Ear Pierced More Than 6 Weeks Ago and Healed

What You Should Know About Infections in Well-Healed Pierced Ears:

• Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home.
• With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
• Here is some care advice that should help.

Clean Earring with Rubbing Alcohol:

• Wash hands with soap and water.
• Remove the earring from the ear.
• Clean the earring and post with rubbing alcohol.
• Do this 3 times per day.

Clean Earlobe with Rubbing Alcohol:

• Then wash away any crusting from the earlobe with soap and water.
• Use rubbing alcohol and some gauze to gently clean around the hole. Do this on both sides of the earlobe.
• If the alcohol stings, use pierced ear solution instead.

Antibiotic Ointment:

• After cleaning, apply an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin) to the earring post and the earlobe holes. No prescription is needed.
• Then put the earring back in.
• Repeat until drainage and redness are gone for 2 days.

What to Expect:

• With proper care, most mild earlobe infections will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.
• Infections often return unless you do daily earring care.

Call Your Doctor If:

• Ear not improved after 3 days
• Infection not gone by 2 weeks
• Fever occurs
• Spreading redness occurs
• You think you need to be seen
• Your symptoms get worse

Prevention of Infections in Pierced Ears

Prevent Infections in Newly Pierced Ears:

• Do not take out the posts for 6 weeks.
• Wash hands before touching the ear or earrings.
• Clean the pierced ear area twice a day. Clean both sides of the earlobes. Use a special pierced ear solution (not rubbing alcohol).
• After cleaning, turn the posts 3 full circles.
• By the end of 6 weeks, the lining of the channels should be healed. Then, earrings may be changed as often as you want.
• The earring backs should not be applied too tight. This will prevent any pressure on the earlobes. Reason: allows the ear channel to have a good blood supply.
• Sleep on a clean pillowcase. Wash it often.
• Be careful when brushing hair.

Prevent Infections in Well Healed Pierced Ears (pierced more than 6 weeks ago):

• Do not to touch the earrings unless needed. Reason: fingers can be dirty and infect the area.
• Wash hands before putting them in or taking them out.
• At bedtime, take out the earrings. Reason: so the channel is exposed to air at night.
• Clean earrings, posts, backs and earlobes with rubbing alcohol. Do this before putting earrings in.
• Apply the backs loosely to prevent any pressure on the earlobes. Reason: allows the ear channel to have a good blood supply.
• Polish or discard any posts with rough spots.
• Avoid heavy earrings.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns