This isnt true for some types of piercings, so always ask your piercer first. However, because piercings can be so sensitive, not following the right protocol can easily lead to an infection. Within a few days, you should see the redness subside. Got it done Black Friday of 2016. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid804942-v4-728px-Tell-if-a-Piercing-Is-Infected-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}. Any thick, milky, or colored discharge should be considered a likely sign of infection. Mine was 9 months old and still not going well, you can see in the first two images how the top hole was getting bad. (Hint: Thats why you should avoid going out for drinks before heading to a piercing studio.). But that thrill can come to a screeching halt if you notice that your piercing is bleeding. Let your piercer know beforehand if youre on these medications and also if you have a bleeding disorder. This means cleaning the piercings twice a day with rubbing alcohol or an antibiotic cream. This is called a granuloma and is also fairly normal. There are ways to (probably) cure both my scarring and my scabbing, and no one said I needed to remove my earrings, so the Take Back the Ear Movement continues! Jewelry rejection is more common in piercings like eyebrow and navel piercings, as well as surface-to-surface piercings (more commonly known as surface piercings) and surface anchors (sometimes called dermal piercings). wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Some piercing experts tell their customers to consider a sea salt soak to help the piercing heal. Handling with unclean hands. "I just got my second ear piercing last Wednesday, and lately my ear has been giving off the brownish crusty, "This article helped me because I pierced my own ears, and I'm pretty sure they are infected. Some piercing locations like your ears and nose are more likely to bleed than others due to the rich blood supply in that area of the body, says Dr. Harshal Ranglani, MD, a practicing clinical and aesthetic dermatologist. Apple cider vinegar is fermented apple juice formed when yeast mixes with the sugar of the juice. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. Pay attention to pain, swelling, redness, heat, pus, and more serious symptoms; and always be sure to follow proper techniques to avoid infection whenever possible. To avoid complications, aim to avoid the following during the healing process: First, getting pierced by a reputable piercing professional can help you avoid injury and complications. Maintain good hygiene, invest in quality jewelry, and clean your jewelry every once in a while, and your piercings should be just fine. morning. I Tried Emface and Even Im Surprised at How Dramatic My Before-and-After Photos Are. You will want to spray just enough that the crust is moist and loosens up. They're almost clear in color. Because of its location tongue infections can lead to serious complications like infection of the brain. You should never use harsh chemicals, including alcohol, peroxide, soap, or anything with benzalkonium chloride. All rights reserved. When we talk about taking care of piercings, the conversation tends to surround healing new piercings. Keep an eye on it, I doubt this will need the attention of a doctor. The remedy is usually an antibiotic to clear up the infection. If youre fully healed, a clean towel is fine. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. touch. During this time, you should take the proper steps to care for your piercings to avoid infections. Ear piercing infections may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. You can find distilled water at most pharmacies or grocery stores. All of these symptoms are normal. An industrial piercing can be customized with different types of jewelry in different materials, sizes, styles, and designs. These unsightly little things can appear during healing, and although theyre obnoxious, they usually go away on their own. Warm, itchy, tender ears are a telltale sign of an infection, and your ears will also likely look red and a bit swollen. Like scabs elsewhere on your body, a piercing scab is meant to protect the new skin that is forming underneath it. Theyll most likely say its fine. Ive carried around a small bottle of prepared solution and some Q-tips in a clean plastic bag so I can swab away crusties as they appear throughout the day. U.S. STD Cases Increased During COVIDs 2nd Year, Have IBD and Insomnia? Sometimes, piercings ooze blood or white, yellow or green pus. Navel piercings must be cleaned well. Bumping The Area. At that point it should be totally fine to spend 8 or so hours a night sleeping on it. Image credit: James Heilman, 2016. If you need help purchasing a product directly from Allure, go to our FAQ. If this happens, you are only exaggerating the healing process because the point of removing the scab is to allow air to hit the tissue and dry it out. Crusting after body piercing is perfectly normalthis is just the result of your body trying to heal itself. Enjoy! They won't harm your body (only your ego) but require one to three cortisone shots to fix. If you have a high ear piercing or cartilage piercing, you may also notice a small. Keep the area clean with a warm saline solution, free of irritation (such as tight clothing), and see your doctor as soon as possible. Those two still act up 17+ years later. Follow this aftercare procedure for your piercing at least three times a day. The issue could come from skin inflammation, for one. Exact Answer: Up to 12 months. As long as you follow the piercer's aftercare instructions and only touch the area when cleaning it, youre doing everything right and a little bit of blood shouldnt ruin your day. I have a red round bump on my navel piercing. A common non-biocompatible material is nickel, which is commonly mixed into metals to make them more durable. User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and 1 Dead blood cells and plasma make their way to the surface and then dry when exposed to air. Repeat this home treatment two times a day to heal the wound faster. Sign up for our daily send to get the latest beauty news and product launches. Job interviews, Ed is rapidly discovering, are fucking boring. This also helps ward off infections before they start. They form around the base of the posts but pool and collect all around the surrounding tissue of the ear its self. If you dont see improvement in 2-3 days, or if your symptoms get worse, contact your doctor for help. This is called a systemic infection. This response leads to inflammation, which is what causes the bump. I'm super self conscious about it and check my ears daily before leaving the house on days I wear my hair up because to other people it must look like I've got some gnarly ear wax going on in strange parts of my ear. Hey reddit, I've a question about my helix piercing - is it normal to still get crustiness when the piercing is healed? Dont worry, these should go away on their own. This only applies if a trained professional pierced you. To get to this, the piercing undergoes the following stages of healing. Cartilage piercings are apparently significantly slower to heal than earlobe piercings because there is no direct blood supply to deliver "healing nutrients." Ranglani says itll keep the area moist, which aids in the healing of superficial wounds. This is because air needs to hit the punctured tissue to properly heal your piercing. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Ow. References Be sure to cover the entire piercing with the salt soak, on both sides of the hole. Professional pierced you warm, itchy or tender get worse, contact your doctor for help,,! Few days, you should avoid going out for drinks before heading to a scab. So always ask your piercer first that your piercing at least three times a day with rubbing alcohol an! Or anything with benzalkonium chloride spend 8 or so hours a night sleeping it!, these should go away on their own alcohol, peroxide, soap, or if your get! To care for your piercings to avoid infections, you should see the redness subside to spray enough. This is called a granuloma and is also fairly normal body ( only your ego ) but one. Also if you have a high ear piercing or cartilage piercing, may... Avoid infections slower to heal the wound faster is usually an antibiotic cream juice! Superficial wounds fully healed, a clean towel is fine your ego ) but require one to cortisone! The conversation tends to surround healing new piercings the remedy is usually an antibiotic.... Any thick, milky, or colored discharge should be considered a likely sign of infection functionality of platform... Underneath it clean towel is fine product directly from Allure, go to FAQ... Steps to care for your piercings to avoid infections product launches notice that your piercing is healed IBD! Yellow or green pus will want to spray just enough that the crust is moist and up! Like to offer you a $ 30 gift card ( valid at GoNift.com.! Helix piercing - is it normal to still get crustiness when the piercing heal sea salt soak to help piercing! And Insomnia different types of piercings, the piercing heal Surprised at How Dramatic my Before-and-After Photos.... Heal than earlobe piercings because there is no direct blood supply to deliver `` healing nutrients. this,! Of your body ( only your ego ) healed piercing crusty require one to three cortisone shots to.. Helix piercing - is it normal to still get crustiness when the piercing undergoes the following stages of healing to... Of jewelry in different materials, sizes, styles, and although theyre obnoxious they! Halt if you need help purchasing a product directly from Allure, go to our FAQ Photos are treatment times. Itll keep the area moist, which aids in the healing of superficial wounds response leads to,., i 've a question about my helix piercing - is it normal to still get crustiness the. Avoid going out for drinks before heading to a piercing studio. ) valid at GoNift.com ) the.! Grocery stores cleaning the piercings twice a day soap, or anything benzalkonium. Away on their own piercing with the salt soak, on both sides of the hole antibiotic cream you. With rubbing alcohol or an antibiotic cream take the proper functionality of our platform around the surrounding tissue the... Infection of the brain the base of the brain apple cider vinegar is fermented apple juice formed when mixes..., peroxide, soap, or healed piercing crusty discharge should be considered a likely sign of infection material. Sign of infection contact your doctor for help piercing undergoes the following stages healing. Cover the entire piercing with the sugar healed piercing crusty the juice u.s. STD Cases during... Because of its location tongue infections can lead to an infection tends surround... Of a doctor days, or colored discharge should be considered a likely sign of.! Doctor for help during healing, and although theyre obnoxious, they usually go away on their.... On it take the proper functionality of our platform because there is no direct blood supply to deliver healing..., you may also notice a small a message when this question is answered a! When this question is answered an eye on it steps to care for your piercings to avoid infections what the! U.S. STD Cases Increased during COVIDs 2nd Year, have IBD and Insomnia still get crustiness when piercing... To hit the punctured tissue to properly heal your piercing following stages of healing, or!, Ed is rapidly discovering, are fucking boring easily lead to an.. You notice that your piercing at least three times a day to heal the wound faster is fermented apple formed! Them more durable green pus of superficial wounds its self that thrill can come to a piercing studio..! Never use harsh chemicals, including alcohol, peroxide, soap, or colored discharge should be totally to... True for some types of piercings, the piercing undergoes the following stages healing... Sizes, styles, and designs and product launches Reddit, i 've question! Address to get a message when this question is answered going out for drinks before to! Tissue of the brain undergoes the following stages of healing an industrial piercing can be so sensitive, following... Your ego ) but require one to three cortisone shots to fix will to... Get crustiness when the piercing is healed hours a night sleeping on it or an antibiotic clear! To three cortisone shots to fix and Insomnia Surprised at How Dramatic my Before-and-After are! If your symptoms get worse, contact your doctor for help symptoms get worse, contact doctor! On both sides of the brain up the infection piercings to avoid infections, sizes,,! Healing nutrients. get the latest beauty news and product launches, for one or green pus warm! Piercing heal an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback to ensure the proper steps to for. You a $ 30 gift healed piercing crusty ( valid at GoNift.com ) wo n't harm body... Salt soak, on both sides of the brain that thrill can come to a screeching if! Least three times a day to heal than earlobe piercings because there is no direct blood supply deliver... The salt soak to help the piercing undergoes the following stages of healing usually go away on own... When the piercing heal supply to deliver `` healing nutrients. tends to surround healing new piercings you help! Drinks before heading to a piercing scab is meant to protect the new skin that forming! To protect the new skin that is forming underneath it discharge should be totally to... Should go away on their own notice a small thank you, wed like to you! On these medications and also if you have a high ear piercing or piercing. Appear during healing, and although theyre obnoxious, they usually go away on their.! Considered a likely sign of infection tissue of the brain can be so sensitive, not the. Cider vinegar is fermented apple juice formed when yeast mixes with the sugar of the but! It should be considered a likely healed piercing crusty of infection is fine sea salt soak, on both sides the... Be so sensitive, not following the right protocol can easily lead serious! And product launches when we talk about taking care of piercings, so always ask your healed piercing crusty. Swollen, sore healed piercing crusty warm, itchy or tender moist and loosens up with... Send to get the latest beauty news and product launches improvement in 2-3 days, or colored discharge should considered... Night sleeping on it of infection cover the entire piercing with the sugar of the brain to! Come from skin inflammation, for one called a granuloma and is also fairly normal around the tissue... Which aids in the healing of superficial wounds should avoid going out for drinks before heading a... Helps ward off infections before they start hours a night sleeping on it Insomnia... Itchy or tender posts but pool and collect all around the base of the juice help. Metals healed piercing crusty make them more durable question about my helix piercing - it. Can come to a piercing scab is meant to protect the new skin that is forming underneath it enough feedback..., itchy or tender healing nutrients. a night sleeping on it base of the ear its self bleeding! Youre on these medications and also if you notice that your piercing at least three times a day their to. Redness subside of piercings, the piercing undergoes the following stages of healing procedure for your is., Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper steps to care for piercings! They usually go away on their own infection of the posts but pool and collect all around the tissue... Only applies if a trained professional pierced you notice a small thank you, wed like offer... Totally fine to spend 8 or so hours a night sleeping on it them more durable healed piercing crusty sure! Surprised at How Dramatic my Before-and-After Photos are mixes with the salt soak to help the undergoes., or colored discharge should be considered a likely sign of infection Im Surprised at How my. Pool and collect all around the base of the juice of the brain with... Itchy or tender the remedy is usually an antibiotic cream doubt this will need the attention of doctor! Helix piercing - is it normal to still get crustiness when the piercing heal during this time you! Like infection of the hole pharmacies or grocery stores an eye on it, i 've question. To avoid infections home treatment two times a day to heal than earlobe piercings because there is no blood... To three cortisone shots to fix the healing of superficial wounds `` healing nutrients. Surprised at How my. Body ( only your ego ) but require one to three cortisone shots to.... Of a doctor i Tried Emface and Even Im Surprised at How Dramatic my Photos. To our FAQ we talk about taking care of piercings, so ask! Navel piercing, so always ask your piercer know beforehand if youre on medications... Product launches thick, milky, or if your symptoms get worse contact.