Ear - Pierced

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DEFINITION

• Area around pierced earring is red, tender, swollen, warm to touch, torn or lacerated

General Information

• About 30% of people who have their ears pierced experience minor complications in the first few days or weeks after piercing.
• Complications include:
  • Localized infection at earring site or spread of infection to entire ear
  • Skin allergy (contact dermatitis) from nickel (contained in some earrings)
  • Back of earring becomes lodged inside the earlobe
  • Tear of earlobe due to pulling on the earring

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If

• You feel weak or very sick
• Earring has torn completely through the ear lobe
• Skin around the piercing site is split open or gaping
• Bleeding at the piercing site has not stopped after 10 minutes of direct pressure
• Part of earring (clasp) is stuck inside the earlobe
• Entire ear is red or swollen
• Ear pain and you have a fever

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If

• You think you need to be seen
• Redness has spread beyond the earring site
• Minor tear in your earlobe and your last tetanus booster was over 10 years ago

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If

• You have other questions or concerns
• Swollen lymph node (in front of or behind earlobe)
• Symptoms not improving after 3 days of treatment at with antibiotic ointment
• Small tear in earlobe from earring injury and no tetanus booster greater than 10 years
• Large thick scar has developed at the earring site during the last couple months

Self Care at Home If

• Localized redness and tenderness only at the earring site, and you don't think you need to be seen
• Small amount of discharge at earring site, and you don't think you need to be seen
• Small tear in earlobe from earring injury, and you don't think you need to be seen

HOME CARE ADVICE FOR PIERCED EAR

1. Localized Redness Or Discharge At Earring Site:
   • Remove the earring from the ear three times a day. Clean the earring and post with rubbing alcohol.
   • Wash away any crusting or discharge from the earlobe using soap and water.
   • Gently clean the holes on both sides of the earlobe with rubbing alcohol and some gauze.
   • Apply Bacitracin ointment to the earring post and to the earlobe holes and reinsert the earring. Bacitracin is an antibiotic ointment that can be obtained over the counter.
2. Newly-Pierced Ears:
   • Don't remove the earring.
   • Use a cotton swab ("Q-Tip") dipped in alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the earring post and skin three times a day.
   • Rotate (turn) the earring several times each day to prevent the skin from sticking to the post.
3. Self Care For Small Tear:
   • For bleeding, use gauze or a towel to apply direct pressure to the area for 10 minutes.
   • Remove the earring and keep it out for 3-5 days.
   • Wash the area with soap and water.
4. Preventing Infections in Newly Pierced Ears:
   • Have your earlobes pierced by someone who is experienced and uses sterile technique.
   • The initial posts should be 14-karat gold or stainless steel.
   • Do not remove the posts for 6 weeks.
   • Attach the earring clasp loosely to allow for swelling.
   • After washing the hands and cleaning both sides of the earlobes with rubbing alcohol, turn the posts approximately 3 rotations. Do this twice a day.
   • By the end of 6 weeks, the lining of the channels should be healed and earrings may be charged as often as desired
5. Preventing an Allergic Reaction To Nickel: Some people have a skin allergy to nickel. Wear earrings with posts made out of 14 K gold or surgical steel.
6. Call Your Doctor If:
   • You are not improving after 3 days
   • You become worse 

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.