Hiya I got my cartillage done about 2 weeks ago now and I kept touching it with dirty hands and now it has swollen and gone sore but it was sore before I am concernd if it is infected but I have stopped touching it and I clean it more often:)

It is infected. Take the earring out and go see your doctor about the infection.

Well I was told to leave it in because I just gave the doctors a ring and they said to clean it 3 times a day for a week and see if the swelling goes down

If the swelling doesn't go down after washing that often every day for one week, go to the doctor. It can get VERY serious and infected.

OK so basically I keep cleaning for one week too see if the swelling will go and if it doesn't I pop down to my doctors and see what's going on

Just because it is swollen does not mean it is infected, please keep that in mind. I have an industrial and it swells from time to time, but it is most definitely not infected.

Signs of infection can include severe swelling, severe redness, and/or a green or yellow discharge that smells bad. If you have any of those symptoms, then see your doctor.

Cartilage piercings are one of the few piercings that do take quite a while to heal. Your piercing is only 2 weeks old, I'm not at all surprised that it is still swollen. I am glad to hear you have stopped touching it. Whenever you touch it, you must wash your hands first. Other than to clean it, you don't need to touch it at all. It is a decoration, not a toy. I know it can become a habit to play with it, but trust me, please don't.

What are you cleaning it with? I suggest to clean it no more than 2 times a day. Cleaning your piercing too much can interrupt the healing process and just make it take even longer to heal. Every time that process is interrupted, it has to start all over again. 2 times a day should be fine. Make sure you are cleaning it with antibacterial soap. I do not suggest to put salt water on it, but if you do, make sure you do not over do it. Salt is very drying and irritating and if it is used too much it is more harmful than helpful.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out! :)

I disagree with the antibacterial soap. I have ten piercings, and I have only ever cleaned them with salt water. Antibacterial soap can disturb the pH of the skin, and as mentioned before, will disturb the healing process.

Stop touching your piercing! Clean twice daily with salt water, using about two teaspoons in a cup of water. Use a clean cotton bud each time you go to clean either side, don't use the same side of the bud for the fornt of the piercing as the back - this may spread infection. You may have to apply a significant amount of pressure - not so it hurts, but don't just tickle the area.

Instead of going to see the doctor, you should go to a proper body piercer, who should have warned you about all of the precautions prior to piercing your ear. They will be able to tell you if it is infected or not. I hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by cmacke

Antibacterial soap can disturb the pH of the skin

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You think salt water won't disturb the pH of your skin? Of course it will! Salt water can be worse than antibacterial soap. I have been getting piercings since I was 17 and have never used salt water, only antibacterial. Of course, it is up to each individual how they take care of their piercing, but make sure you do not give false information saying that salt water will not disturb the pH of the skin. Anything can.

I didn't mean to. I never said it wouldn't, obviously anythign you put on your skin will affect it. Just from experience (since I was 13 since we are playing the age game) I have found that salt water is much more natural, and my professional piercist wouldn't recommend anything else.

The problem with antimicrobial or antiseptic soaps is that they will often help kill the bacteria on the outside of the body, but the bacterium may become trapped within the body and breed there, causing a worse infection. Im not saying that there isn't a possibility of this happening with salt water or saline, but I haven't encountered it.

Didn't mean to misconstrew :)

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Originally Posted by cmacke

Didn't mean to misconstrew :)

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Oh no, no problem! :)

I, like you with salt, have not encountered anything negative with antibacterial soap. Everyone's body will react differently to different things. Some people have problems with certain things, and some people don't. My only problem with salt water is I have seen a lot of irritation and infection that was caused by the overuse of salt. This usually happens with people that think "the more I clean it, the better it will be"... but of course you and I know differently. ;) Overcleaning is bad.

The only reason I didn't recommend salt was because it can be (if overused) dry and irritating to the piercing and the surrounding skin. Like for example, I don't know if you've ever been in the ocean (some people haven't :p), but when you get out, your skin is very dry and very chapped and it takes a whole lot of lotion to bring it back to normal. It's the same concept with a piercing.

I understand what you are saying though, and of course, any information you can provide is always welcome. :)

Okay Hello I Have Had It In For About 8 Weeks Now And It Is Not Swollen The Swelling Went Down And I Am Going To Change It In A Weeks Time So No Worrys Lol

Thanks For The Help XD