OK so on Sunday may 4th 2014 I got 2 cartilage piercings done in both ears done by a gun. The Monday after I woke up to find my ears were a pinkish red color and swollen and have been since. I was wondering if this is normal or if this is a sign of infection or an allergic reaction. I used sterling silver bcs my doc said it was OK and I wasn't going to have an allergic reaction to the earings. I have been cleaning them but not taking then out in fear that they won't go back in bcs of the swelling. What should I do? Is this normal? If so how long might this last?

Sterling silver is proper. Tell me how you have been cleaning them?

Sterling silver is proper. Tell me how you have been cleaning them?

I take the backs off the piercings and the I move them forward just enough for a q-tip to get in between and piercing and the ear and you use the solution that my piercer gave me to clean them with

Hate to say this because I am giving you downers all the time, especially with your tanning question.

Don't take the backs off,but move the piercings around a bit and don't use a qtip, the cotton particles stay in the piercing and will cause infection. Leave everything in and wash with warm water and salt; wash meaning, rinse them down the best way you can, with clean hands and maybe with a clean cotton cloth.