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Nasty infected piercing question

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in Health & Wellbeing
I've had a piercing for perhaps four or five years. It healed fine and I have had no issues. Out of the blue, about a month ago, it became quite swollen and was pussing and bleeding all over the place. I started a 10 minute sea salt soak twice a day followed by a dab of tea tree oil and I made sure to have a fresh pillow case every night. After a week and a half it looked normal again. I put the tea tree oil on once a day just to be safe, but that was it. A couple days ago, it started back up again - swollen, bleeding and pussing.

What the freak? I don't remember hitting it or doing anything. To the piercing gurus - what should I be doing? I've started the sea salt soak again. Should I continue on with the regime for a longer period of time even though it looked fine? A month? Should I be doing anything else to it?

Thanks :)

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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Maybe you've just started becoming sensitive to the bar/ metal?
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Have you changed the jewellery you have in it since the last infection? I had two cartilidge piercings which both became very infected. They were so swollen my ear tried to grow over the piercing and it was so painful I could hardly touch it. I got a reputable piercer to change the bars for me (I should have gone somewhere reputable in the first place!) and did the salt/water soak as you have been doing and then once they calmed down and started healing, I changed the jewellery again...I've not had any trouble since :)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It is titanium, so the metal should be good. Though, I've actually never changed the jewelry ever - hadn't even thought of that. It probably has nasty lurking all over it. Once it cools down a bit I'll get that out. Great idea, thank you!

    Now... how do you figure out what gauge it is so I can get another piece. I've forgotten :p
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    For the swelling...you could put some ice on it of some sort...I found that helped massively. Also, I'm not so sure on the tea tree oil?? I was always told just to stick to basic salt and water or a very small bit of carex diluted in water...I would also suggest getting a piercer to change the jewellery rather than doing it yourself...especially if it hurts as much as mine did...I don't think I would have got another bar in it if I tried doing it myself...!! :)
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    Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    nvm. I thought the earring had broke cuz the screw came out with the ball bur that is how it was meant to be i guess. Perhaps the ball is just coated titanium and that is why the screwis on that end.
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