I have an ear piercing that I've had for over 20 years.
It started bothering me about a month ago so I took my earring out.
It's a burning irritating feeling.
I've been washing with mild soap and even went and bought some
cleaning solution for piercings, but the burning persists.
Inside the hole appears red, but it doesn't look swollen and nothing is oozing out.

Anything else I could try?

Thanks

Allheart

Naut and Kae you both are such sweethearts.

Oh Kae I hope your ear isn't torn .


Naut, I had to take my piercing out and I loved it!! But it kept getting irrittated and hurt like a toothache.

I probably didn't go to the best place. But they were very nice and did seem to know what they were doing. And where I work I sit most of the day and my clothes kept rubbing against it. Ouch

I went to a different place for a follow-up and the were the ones that told me just like you did, about how to use the sea salt. But I finally did take it out.

I am hoping someday to get it redone and the second place. Is it possible to have it redone?

Thanks and love you both

nauticalstar420

Aww thank you, you are such a sweetheart too!

Of course you can have it re-done, as long as it is not overgrown with scar tissue. If its just a little scarred, or not at all, then it will be absolutely fine.

Allheart

Naut,

I am very fair skin, but oddly enough, at least to the eye, you can hardly tell.

It won't be for a while, or even at all, but I think a little one there looks so pretty.

Thanks again!!!!

AKaeTrue

I think they look very pretty too allheart!
Unfortunately for me, I only get stuck by needles when it is absolutely necessary, you know for like Iv's for surgery, blood tests and stuff LOL.
I wonder how a piercing feels compared to that stuff?

Over the weekend a small bump developed, on the back of the lobe,
above the sensitive hole .
It's about the size of a small pebble and it's under the skin.
It's very painful and reminds me of an under the skin pimple.
When this thing formed the burning feeling I was having disappeared.
If this is a pimple, which would be my guess, then I'm not going to the doctor.
Is it common for a pimple to develop on the back of an ear like this?

nauticalstar420

Those bumps are actually quite common in piercings that have just gone through some sort of trauma or irritation. They are usually filled with some sort of fluid -- either pus or blood.

To help it drain, you can put a warm compress on it for 10 minutes twice a day. The heat will help the fluid rise to the surface and drain on its own. Dont squeeze it, prick it or try to pop it in any way. That could just make matters worse. They have to drain in their own time. Bear with it, because it can take a while (sometimes up to a month!) to drain.

If it does not eventually drain on its own, and gets worse (more painful, more inflamed), you may want to see a doctor so he can drain it for you. If it does drain on its own, and the fluid is green or yellow and has a bad smell, you should see a doctor because that is a pretty definite sign of infection.

Good luck hun and I hope it gets better soon.

AKaeTrue

So it's not really an ordinary ole pimple then?

My main concern about going to the doctor was that he already thinks I'm a hypochondriac,
well I am, but I'm trying not to be so much...and I really hate it when I know he's thinking
I'm nut for being there - which he would have done if I went there for a pimple.

Thanks again, I'll try the warm compress to see if that helps it.
If not, then I'll go.

nauticalstar420

Its not really just a pimple. Its caused by the irritation to the piercing. You really only need to go do the doctor of it does not drain on its own, or if it develops signs of an infection.

A lot of times, things like this go away on their own just with time.

AKaeTrue

I've been following all your advice and the bump is half the size it was before. It's no longer constantly bothering me.
It's been such a slow process, it drains so slowly that I don't even notice that it's draining.
Hopefully at this rate it will be completely healed in maybe 2 weeks.
Just wanted to let you know that your suggestions are working:-)

nauticalstar420

Oh good i'm so glad! Nobody likes those stupid bumps (especially me!)

Its normal for the drain process to be fairly slow -- its a lot healther than squeezing it or pricking it just for fast relief. When you do that, the bump always comes back. Just keep at it and it should heal up fine for you soon!