earring hole infection

[monkey68]

Does anyone have any idea what's going on? Lately, my second ear piercing has been constantly getting infected. I got those holes when I was 12, I'm 24 now, and I haven't had any problems until recently. I've taken out the earrings while it's infected, and I'm using peroxide and neosporin on my earlobes, and I also sterilize the earrings before I put them in once the infection has cleared up. Is there anything I can do to stop it from happening so often? I've put in new earrings, I tried 24K gold, but it's the same thing. Anything I can do?

 

[mla1977]

make sure you have nickle free posts. stop using peroxide. It will only make it worse. and try bacitracin instead of neosporin,

 

[Serena]

What she said /\

 

[maelstrom]

You might have developed a nickel allergy. Try the "sensitive solutions" earrings from Claire's or The Icing; they're nickel-free. Gold has nickel in it. Use triple-antibiotic ointment on your ears, and you could also try a saline solution (I use that on my eyebrow piercing).

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[monkey68]

I didn't know gold has nickel in it, I might look into some nickel free. But the ones I usually wear in there are diamond studs, and I would hate to not wear them and wear some cheap earrings from Claire's. My uncle is a jeweler, so maybe he can change the posts for me? Is it possible to do that to save the diamonds? For some odd reason, the problem is only with the second holes, the first ones are fine. Right now, my ears are so sensitive, I can't even wear my hair down because when it brushes against my ear, ow!

 

[Serena]

Hopefully it's just a temporary thing .

 

[minkydog]

Since it's "constantly getting infected" it might be time to take your earlobe to the doctor. It sounds like whatever it is the infection is only partially treated. You could have a small cyst in there or perhaps a staph infection. Earlobes don't have a great blood supply, so it's harder to get infections to clear up than say, your face. Oh, and leave the earrings out until the infection heals or it's going to be harder to get the infection under control.

 

[monkey68]

Since it "keeps on happening" it might be time to take your earlobe to the doctor. It sounds like whatever it is the infection is only partially treated. You could have a small cyst in there or perhaps a staph infection. Earlobes don't have a great blood supply, so it's harder to get infections to clear up than say, your face. Oh, and leave the earrings out until the infection heals or it's going to be harder to get the infection under control.

I feel a little silly going to the doctor for a problem with my earlobe, especially since by the time I actually get a chance to go, odds are that it would already be gone. I definitely am leaving the earrings out, it's too painful to even think about having anything in them anyway. I'm not worried about them closing up, since the piercings are about 12 years old.

 

[minkydog]

I feel a little silly going to the doctor for a problem with my earlobe, especially since by the time I actually get a chance to go, odds are that it would already be gone. I definitely am leaving the earrings out, it's too painful to even think about having anything in them anyway. I'm not worried about them closing up, since the piercings are about 12 years old.

I bet your doctor won't think it's silly.

 

[Macca1111]

My uncle is a jeweler, so maybe he can change the posts for me? Is it possible to do that to save the diamonds?

Yes, he can do that. You should check with a doctor first, or at least establish that it is a nickel allergy, but it should not be a problem to take the diamonds out and reset them in something that doesn't make you infected. Good luck!