Ear-piercing question (infected)

[sunlover13]

So, I have never had earrings, ever. DD got her ears pierced about a year ago. She still has the same earrings that they pierced them with. We tried another pair before and they got infected and hurt her ears so we just went back to the ones they used. Yesterday, she complained her ear hurt and after taking a look at them, they are infected again. It took me about 15 minutes to get them out b/c she was screaming and did not want me to do it. So, they are out and still hurt and have some bleeding in the back. Besides cleaning them with alcohol, should I be doing anything else? The earrings are out. How long do I wait to put them back in? Will they close up? How often do I clean them? Thanks for any help!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

She may be allergic to nickel (which may have been in the 2nd pair of earrings).

Clean them with alcohol or peroxide. Put some antibiotic ointment on her ears and cover the holes with little band-aids. If her ears have been pierced for a year they won't close.

Look into getting her nickel free earrings.

 

[Sandy321]

Definately keep cleaning them!!

I dont know if I'd put them back in, she may need to let them close up and wait a bit... my sister in laws both had very hard time with piercing - often getting infections even when careful to only wear 14K gold - whenever they had an infection my mil would clean them often, and if the ears closed before they were all clear, they would wait a year or more before getting them repierced...

Good Luck, I'm sure there will be more answers to come -

 

[CF'er]

I would not use alcohol I would use hydrogen peroxide. Alcohol is going to hurt like hades.

I would leave them out maybe a day. When you put them back in try to keep them loose in the ear. Same routine as when first pierced.... clean 2-3 times daily and turn ear-rings.

 

[MAKmom]

I would not use alcohol I would use hydrogen peroxide. Alcohol is going to hurt like hades.

I would leave them out maybe a day. When you put them back in try to keep them loose in the ear. Same routine as when first pierced.... clean 2-3 times daily and turn ear-rings.

I agree. Use the peroxide for a day or two. Then stop it will keep the wound from healing. Use neosporin.

My DDs & myself can not wear cheap earrings without pain. Gold,silver or surgical steel are OK.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I've had pierced ears for almost 20 years and I still have infection from time to time. I just take the earrings out, soak them in peroxide, clean my ears with alcohol, put neosporin on the earrings and put them back in. I usually leave them out overnight though.

 

[LisaZee]

I have some rather odd advice... Now, I see you live by me (I'm in Lockport) and there is no way she'll feel the urge to get into any water given the temps outside, but I would put her in a pool. Like at a health club or a school or something. Why?

Many moons ago when I was young and much thinner , I got my navel pierced. I swear it was infected for 8 months - I tried topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, everything -it would clear up a little, then bam! Nasty... The next summer we went to Kings Island in Ohio and I spent the day at the water park. Say what you want about those kinds of places, but all the chlorine in the water knocked out whatever infection I had! It was fine for years. When it did act up again maybe 7 or 8 years later, I just happened to be doing water aerobics at the high school pool with my mom, and a few sessions later, success.

Now, I know it sounds a little shady and I know if you're swimming in a pool that someone else with an infected _______ (whatever) sounds gross, but I swear by public pools to knock out infections due to piercing.

Ugh, I have successfully disgusted myself now...

Good luck!

 

[sunlover13]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm digging through our closet right now to find the peroxide. DD wants them to close, she says......... However, I'm not going to take her again next year when she wants earrings!

 

[Cool-Beans]

I'd use peroxide to clean them. I might put a triple ointment (like Neosporin, but I'd get the generic) on it, might not. Sometimes air is better than ointment.

 

[mumzie2three]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I'm digging through our closet right now to find the peroxide. DD wants them to close, she says......... However, I'm not going to take her again next year when she wants earrings!

They may not close. My DD's ears were pierced when she was 3 and when there was a problem I took them out and left them out. When she was in high school just for the heck of it she asked me to try putting some earrings back in the old holes. It worked! Now she is into earrings big time.

 

[Axel]

I agree that she may be allergic to nickel which is in a lot of earrings. I'm sensitive to it, but not allergic so I can wear them if I absolutely have to, but I try to avoid it. I generally wear titanium (because I think the color's cool and because that's generally what other-than-average guage earrings come in) or sterling silver. I'll wear gold if it's what's there, but I'm not a gold person. But look into the nickel thing. I have several friends that are severely allergic so I get them nickel free earrings for their birthdays and they love me for it.

 

[maelstrom]

She's probably allergic to nickel. That's what happened to me. Clean her ears with peroxide and put triple antibiotic cream on them. Next time you try putting earrings in, coat them with the cream first as well. Keep an eye on the infection, though. Last time I had an infection, I ended up having to get a round of Levaquin (heavy duty oral antibiotic) to clear it up.

Check out the Icing and Claire's for earrings; their Sensitive Solutions line works for me.

 

[ilovedisney1]

I had my ears pierced when I was young but, they eventually closed. So fast forward about 8-10 years and I found part of a earring. Well I said to myself why don't I try to stick it through my ear. Guess what it worked! Occasionoly my ears hurt so I take the earring out. So if she wants to leave the earrings out for a while,there might be a chance that she could put them back in.

 

[Embel]

About 6 months after my DD got her ears pierced we put in some sterling silver Minnie Mouse earrings. Her ears, which we had not had any problems with before, got so badly infected & swollen. I took the earrings right out & cleaned her ears up. She had an unrelated Dr. appt the next morning. The Dr. told us to clean the area with neosporin and get the earrings back in. They were so swollen & red I honestly couldn't even be sure I got one of them through the existing hole in the back.

Then we applied neosporin very liberally a few times a day. They cleared up & have been fine since. We don't change them often (she's still a little traumatized) but when we do we use 14K gold only.

Good luck, I hope she feels better soon.