I got my ear cartalige pierced 11 days ago,
Then another cartillage piercing on top of that one 5 days ago,
The piercings were fine,
I couldn't sleep on them but I was told that was normal.
My piercings started looking infected yesterday so I went to the school nurse,
She said I had a minor infection and just to clean it and it should clear up.
This morning when I woke up my ear was soar, red, warm and really swollen.
I showed my mom who made me take out the piercings.
She said it would be able to clear up faster if I didn't have them in.
So I listened to her,
Again today I went back to the school nurse you but cold water on it to get some of the puss out.
It didn't work but she told me to do it 3 times a day because it will help.
So when I got home today I started soaking it for 20 minutes.
I then 'googled' infected cartiallge piercing and it said
That I shouldn't have taken the piercings out because then it can close with the infection ni it.
It also said that some people have to get surgery on their infected ear.
Has this happened to anyone?
Im kindof nervous about the whole surgery thing,
And does it make that much of a difference if I took the piercings out?


HELP!:eek:

I've had my cartilage pierced 7 times! 3 of them got "infected". I asked my piercer and she told me to use Tea Tree oil or vitamin E a few times a day. This also worked for my nose ring and lip ring that had problems.. and they all cleared up.. it really doesn't matter that you took them out.. I took mine out and its fine!

And where can I get tea tree oil?
And how do I get the puss out of it?

At a natural store.. like here in WA we have Green Earth... as it heals the puss will come out..

Aha thanks sososo much :D
And I just put it on my ear?

Yea with like a q-tip.. rubb a little on there.. it worked for me in like 4 days which to me was fast..

Yep mines been infected a few times just like that. You really shouldn't take it out.. just clean it with hyrdrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, you should be fine :]

Well I already did so I don't want to put it back in now,

An infection needs antibiotics, period. You need to go to the doctor (not the school nurse) and get some antibiotics. In the mean time, until you can get to the doctor, clean your ear as if it still had jewelry in it; clean it with antibacterial soap twice a day.

For future reference, this is why you should get piercings that are going to be in the same area at least 2 weeks apart, not within a week of each other. If one gets infected, it can very easily spread to the other, and that has a higher rate of being prevented if you wait 2 or so weeks between piercings.

Don't try and put the piercings back in, this could just make things worse. Get to the doctor!

yep mines been infected a few times just like that. you really shouldnt take it out.. just clean it with hyrdrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol, you should be fine :]


NEVER use hydrogen peroxide it will dry your ear out and it will take longer to heal

Hiya guys I got my cartillage done about 2 weeks ago now and I woke up it was sore and swollen but not really bad I got back from school tonight and the pain has gone but it is still sort of swollen and I was told to keep cleaning it 3 times a day for 1 week ( BUT this may be due to the fact I kept touching it with dirty hands )