Preventing the occurrence of ear infections starts with hygiene from the first minute you get your piecing to the weeks after that before it fully heals. Daily and regular cleaning of the wound is advised but even then, there is something as too much washing. So where is the balance?
Hand washing is one of the most basic things you can do to prevent any infections. That goes hand in hand with not touching your piercing to limit bacterial spread.
Using a clean gauze and a saline solution, the piercing should soak for approximately 3 minutes every 3 times a day.
What causes a pierced ear infection?
Regardless of whether you are a newbie to piercings or you have been doing this all your life, the first six weeks of a piercing are crucial to how it will heal and any problems you may encounter.
Piercings are extremely delicate and deserve as much tender loving care as you can muster.
As often said, the small things in life matter the most and this is true for piercing care.
Forgetting to wash or sanitize your hands before reaching to touch your piercing will risk introduction of harmful bacteria that could get hosted in the vulnerable piercing.
This will no doubt multiply and spread out through the ear causing a nasty infection that is way more painful than the piercing itself.
Even after your ear holes are healed and its been long with new earpieces, you still need to maintain a routine to clean them regularly to keep infections at bay.
Keep in mind that even the new earrings you are sporting could contain some negative elements so regularly cleaning is being safe.
Activities such as hair washing will leave sediments of shampoos and conditioner on the piercings, this is why it is important to clean the region once a week.
Inculcate a culture where you take off your earrings at night or when you are carrying out an activity that could be dangerous or hazardous.
Having a sanitizer handy will save you during unexpected trips to the mall when you have to try on a few earrings.
If your personal hygiene is above par but you still get these reactions, the type of earrings you are wearing could be the culprit. Metal allergies lead to jewelry allergic reactions.
Metals such as nickel, cobalt and some classes of gold. Unless the piece you are looking to buy is made of stainless steel, 24Kt gold, sterling silver or platinum, there is a chance that all other metals have potentially harmful combinations that you should watch out for.
What are ear infection symptoms?
If you recently got your piercing and you are ow feeling a bit of an itch, a soreness and you can witness some swelling and redness, there is a good chance that your piecing is infected.
Discharge from the ear is common and expected. It does not tell of an infection as most piercing will ooze some clear liquid when they are healing.
As long as there is no pain, swelling or redness of the skin, you should be fine.
Ear piercings are susceptible to infections and most are minor and can self-clean in less than a week.
If the agony persists after four to five days, you need to see a specialist who will assess the damage and advise on a more permanent solution.
How to treat an infected ear piercing: Over-the-counter and DIY remedies
Before you pick up your phone to sign up for a doctor’s appointment, there are a few home remedies you could try to minimize the pain and discomfort.
Dandruff shampoo is one such suggestion that you can use to allay the effects of a slight infection.
It has some antibacterial agents that could be instrumental in killing any existing germs.
You could also try removing the earring though not highly recommended.
This allow you to clean the earrings too as you clean even better the piercing hole.
You could then lather the area in some antibacterial ointment before sliding the earrings back in.
The right earring material
Metal for Earrings
The number one most crucial thing to consider when buying metal jewelry is its composition and any possible side effects that could arise.
While out shopping for a piece, find a reputable and authorized jeweler and ask for hypoallergenic earrings. These types are not only long-lasting but they are great for daily wear as the risk for any infection is minimized.
If you are on a budget, hypoallergenic metals within your range will be anything from stainless-steel, surgical stainless-steel and maybe sterling-silver.
If you’re lucky to have a little more cash to spend, 24Kt gold, silver, platinum and palladium are your best choice.
Conclusion
Regular ear infections are not a common thing.
You must counter check the quality of services offered at your piercing clinic, check the earpiece used at time of piercing and check your hygienic practices.
Anywhere between these tee processes is where the problem lies.
we also know that they are not a death sentence and that they have the capacity to self-heal if extra care is administered. You should be fine in less than a week.
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Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.