Ear Piercing Problem??

[Disney Ontario]

Hi my DD12 just got her upper ear pierced on June30.It still really hurts.We have been putting Hydrogen Peroxide on it. What else can we do?The piercing lady just pierced it and got paid. No questions or tips on it.She got it done at Merle Norman. She didn't even ask her age or parents concent. Though I am ok with it. Is there anything that we would have at home to help to pain?

 

[Pokprincess]

I would use alcohol on it everyday.. and evening. It cleans it better than peroxide, which is literally just water. The alcohol will keep it sterilized, and therefore help prevent any infections. They upper ear takes a little longer to heal than the lobe...good luck

 

[TeresaMc]

Seems to me that my cartilage piercing hurt alot longer than my ear lobes.

 

[nja33]

i got my cartilidge pierced at the end of last august and it's still sore at times. especially when i sleep on it. the constant pain lasted at least a month. maybe more. it's totally normal.

 

[bballdiva]

There is special stuff u can buy to put on pearced ears it will help alot. When i got mine done they have ma whole bag of "goodies" Instructions on cleaning and a bottles of liquid stuff(kinda smelles like alchol alittle),you clean them with 2 times a day. U can usually buy it at any place that pearces ears.

 

[Keebles]

I've had mine pierced for almost 19 years and it still gets sore if I sleep on it wrong or bump it! I also agree that alcohol is the best thing...peroxide tends to get crusty. Wet it down several times a day with it if possible. It will take a while for it to "toughen up" to the elements, so to speak. Just make sure it doesn't become infected...oye, what fun that is, NOT!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

You mean her cartilage? I got mine pierced last November and it still gets a little sore. It was FOREVER before I could sleep on it. It being sore it perfectly normal.

Once I could change the earring, I put in a small hoop and have left it in ever since. It doesn't hurt AT ALL and I can sleep on it.

Also, I was told NOT to use peroxide on it. When I got in the shower I just soaped it up with regualr soap and rinsed it well.

 

[smilie]

When I got my upper-ear pierced I was told no peroxide. She told me that it eats away at the earring. However, I was also told no alcohol. She said it dries the skin and that could make it hurt worse. In all honesty, I used alcohol with no problem. It did take a LONG time to heal though, a lot longer then the lobes do. Just make sure when she washes her hair, that she rinses the piercing really well.

 

[robertchance]

Lets hope that it does not get infected. In order for meds ( penicillion) to work, there must be a supply of blood to the area in order for the meds to travel there. On the upper part of ear there is mostly cartilidge and not much blood vessel. My daughter had this issue and it took awhile and 2 courses of meds to clear up the infection. I ask the doc why and that was his answer.

 

[Rowlf]

After a year, I finally gave up on my upper-ear piercing. It just never stopped hurting and I got a keloid, even after paying significant $$ to have a body piercer in NYC do it!

 

[smilie]

This is OT, sorry, but Rowlf your DS is absolutely precious!

 

[John's Mom]

I agree with using alcohol. I also used petroleum jelly. It made it easier to move the earrings around while the holes were healing.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would use alcohol on it everyday.. and evening. It cleans it better than peroxide, which is literally just water.

I just wanted to mention that peroxide is not literally just water (water is H2O, peroxide is H2O2).
It is good at killing germs (in fact it is used as a disinfectant and a chemical sterilant to sterilize medical and dental equipment).
It can be used to clean skin, but is not a good choice to clean wounds you are trying to heal because it is toxic to new skin cells. (So, you end up with no germs, but every time you clean it, you disrupt the healing).

Alcohol won't cause that problem and is a fine cleaner, or you can get something made specifically for pierced ears at a place that pierces ears (other than the Merle Norman where they were done); someplace like Piercing Pagoda does enough that they know what they are doing.
Here's a
web page about signs of infection.

 

[jjan]

What else can we do?

Take it out! I had one done a long time ago and after a year it still was hurting and never seemed like it was going to heal. I gave up and I'm glad that I did.

 

[foolishmortal]

I have my labret (bottom lip) done 3 times across...the best thing is water and soap, if you are worried about any infection use Bactine.

Water and soap will do the trick maybe once in the morning once at night. It will hurt for awhile since it is cartlidge not just skin.

 

[tink90]

I use little alchohaul swobs my mom picked up at the local grocerie store, the swabs are so easy, alchohaul is already in them and evrything!

 

[johnatthebar]

lots of replies but I wanted to throw in another vote for alcohol over peroxide. peroxide is great for cuts and such, but it draws white blood cells to the site (hence the 'crusty' note) and actively tries to clsoe the site more than just disinfect. its the same reason that you don't wanna put peroxide on a contaminated needle stick, it actually increases flow to the area.

my vote is to hit it with alcohol frequently, soap and water is good too, and look out for increase in pain, redness, swelling, and the area becoming hot to the touch. if any of those things pop up that means there is likely an infection. nothing to worry too much about. if any doubt, check with your family doctor.

hope all is well.

 

[RubyPatches]

Totally up to you, but when DD got her ears pierced in March, I would clean her ears and earring posts with peroxide and then dip the posts in Neosporin before putting them in her ears. A tip from my nurse sister. Her ears were really tender when we started changing them, but that didn't last long and they didn't get infected.

 

[roberrl187]

I have another vote for the Neosporin but in combination with the alcohol. Or use soap and water then put a bit of Neosporin on. You can get the Neosporin that has a bit of "pain releif" in it. This was recommended by both my DSis (RN) and my DBro (Pharmacist) for my DD after she started having problems with her second hole on one of her ears.

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi again. I didn't know that sooo many people would reply to me and a big THANKS Right now she is at my sister inlaws (another diss member) ready to babysit in the morning. I think I will be running over to the Pharmacy in the morning and do a quick ask, but will probably just buy the alcohol.The next few days she is going to be busy with Baseball and the cottage and just mite take her mind off of it. THANKS for the care.