How to identify and treat an infected ear piercing

• A piercing is infected if it is red, swollen, bleeding, and producing pus.
• To treat it at home, use topical antibiotics, a saline solution, and don't remove the piercing.
• See a doctor if the piercing is worsening, as it can lead to scarring or serious infection.

Ear piercings are prone to bacterial infections, especially if you constantly fiddle with them or your piercer doesn't sterilize their equipment before use. It's important to get pierced by a professional and to refrain from touching the piercing to prevent any complications.

While soreness, slight bleeding, and clear fluid discharge might be normal in new piercings, increased redness, swelling, and pus are a cause for concern, says Anna Balabanova Shannahan, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

In some cases, you can treat minor symptoms at home by applying over-the-counter antibiotic cream like Neosporin or Bacitracin, but it's better to see a doctor right away when you have signs of infection to avoid further complications.

Here are the signs of an infected ear piercing, how to treat it, and when to seek medical attention.

How do I know if my ear piercing is infected or irritated?

It's normal for a new piercing to be somewhat tender, reddish, or itchy for the first few weeks. It takes around 6 to 8 weeks for a new ear piercing to heal. It can take even longer for cartilage piercings — around 3 to 4 months.

Quick tip: Itchiness can be a sign of irritation due to metals like nickel, which can increase risk of infection. Avoid this reaction by choosing high-quality metals like gold or titanium for your piercing.

Signs of an infection

• Increased redness and swelling
• The area is warm and painful to touch
• Severe bleeding
• White, green, or yellow pus
• Fever and chills

No matter where you were pierced, there is a risk of infection, hepatitis B or C, and tetanus.

"Some sites are more prone to infection than others. For example, high-rim ear piercings in the cartilage lead to infections more often than earlobe piercings because they don't have as much blood flow," says Shannahan.

How to treat an infected ear piercing

1. Wash your hands with soap and water before touching the piercing site.
2. Prepare a saline solution by dissolving 1/2 teaspoon of salt in one cup of water.
3. Soak a cotton pad in the solution and place it on the piercing site.
4. Pat the affected area with a clean paper towel to dry it.
5. Apply some over-the-counter topical antibiotics (like Neosporin).
6. Gently turn the jewelry while cleaning to keep it from embedding in your skin.

You can try this procedure thrice a day for three days to reduce minor symptoms. If there is no improvement after three days, it's important that you contact a doctor. However, it's best to see a doctor right away when you suspect that you have an infection.

Additionally, it's important that you don't take your piercing out even when cleaning it. It's best to leave it in unless a doctor says otherwise because the hole can close up and trap bacteria or pus inside. Don't try to squeeze the pus out either because you may introduce more bacteria into the piercing site.

When should I go to a doctor for an infected ear piercing?

If you think you may have an infection, especially if it's a cartilage piercing, it's important to see a doctor as soon as possible to avoid complications and get started on antibiotics, says Shannahan. Don't wait to see if an infected piercing will heal on its own, especially if you already see it worsening.

A doctor may recommend topical antibiotics such as Neosporin, or oral antibiotics, depending on infection severity. Infections can occur near the piercing site, but they can also affect the whole body, so medical attention is critical.

"If an infected piercing isn't treated, it can lead to issues at the site like abscesses [build-ups of pus], scarring, or deformities. More commonly in body piercings than ear piercings, there can also be conditions that affect the entire body like blood or heart infections," says Shannahan.

Tips for preventing an infected ear piercing

• Go to an experienced and qualified piercer instead of doing your own piercings.
• Make sure your earrings are clean, sterile, and made of a high-quality metal.
• Avoid picking at any scabs that form and use a warm saline solution to soften it.
• Clean your piercing twice a day to keep bacteria from entering the piercing site.
• Don't go swimming until the piercing fully heals.
• Don't fasten your earring backs too tightly against the earlobe to encourage blood flow.
• Make sure you're sleeping on a clean pillowcase during the healing process.

Insider's takeaway

Doing your own piercing, neglecting to clean it twice a day, or constantly fiddling with it may introduce bacteria to the piercing site and cause an infection. You can treat redness and itchiness by cleaning the infected site with a saline solution, but don't take the jewelry out.

If you have signs of infection, such as fever and chills or a discharge of blood or pus, seek medical attention immediately. The doctor may prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to treat the infection and avoid further complications.