I have pierced my cartilage myself, and is sterilized everything e.g... The needle, the earring the back of the earring, my ear and my hands. Its been 24 hours and my ear is red just where the piercing is, only very slightly hot. My ear only hurts when I touch the earring. I clean the piercing every hour, since I go to school so its an environment full of germs, my ear always feels better i.e. less pain after I have cleaned it. From this information can anyone tell me if I have the beginning of an infection?
I really need someone's advice please help ! Xx

Apply coconut oil or neem oil. Clean the wound with a disinfectant and if it gets worse go to the doctor and next time pierce with the help of a Professional and it helps if the metal you use is gold, since gold has natural healing properties.

DO NOT use disinfectant on the piercing site. This can cause chemical burns and poisoning.

Use a 25% saline solution twice a day.

Cleaning the piercing so much is irritating it and interrupting the natural healing process.

It will be like that for at least a weeek