Why is my piercing itchy?

It's normal to notice some itching and tenderness when it comes to new ear piercings. During the first weeks, your piercing might look slightly red or produce a crusty discharge as it heals. If you have a high ear piercing or cartilage piercing, you may also notice a small bump that forms around the piercing.

Is it normal for my piercing to itch?

What's normal for a new piercing. For the first few weeks a new piercing might: be tender, itchy, and the surrounding area may look slightly red on white skin, or a little darker than usual on dark skin.

Does an itchy piercing mean it's infected?

An infected ear piercing may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes the piercing oozes blood or white, yellow or greenish pus. A new piercing is an open wound that can take several weeks to fully heal.

What helps with itchy piercings?

Gently pat dry the affected area with clean gauze or a tissue. Then apply a small amount of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (Neosporin, bacitracin, others), as directed on the product label. Turn the piercing jewelry a few times to prevent it from sticking to the skin.

Why are my piercing holes itchy?

If you've never had an earring hole infection before, you may not be familiar with the warning signs and symptoms, but they're pretty straightforward. Warm, itchy, tender ears are a telltale sign of an infection, and your ears will also likely look red and a bit swollen.

Healing Piercings: The Good Signs

How do I know if my piercing is infected?

Is my piercing infected or healing?

According to Thompson, the telltale signs of an infection are simple: “The area around the piercing is warm to the touch, you notice extreme redness or red streaks protruding from it, and it has discolored pus, normally with a green or brown tint,” Thompson says.

Does itchy piercing mean its healing?

During Healing: You may note some itching at the site. You may note whitish-yellow fluid that is not pus. This fluid coats jewelry and forms a crust when it dries. After Healing: Sometimes jewelry will not move freely within the piercing tract.

Should I twist my ear piercing?

Don't fiddle with your piercings.

Don't touch a new piercing or twist the jewelry unless you're cleaning it. Keep clothing away from the piercing, too. Excessive rubbing or friction can irritate your skin and delay healing.

What can I use to clean my piercing if I don't have sea salt?

Stir 1/8 teaspoon (0.7 g) of non-iodized salt in 1 cup (240 ml) of warm distilled water until the salt dissolves. Avoid using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the piercing.

Can I take out a fresh piercing if I don't like it?

Dermatologists caution against removal as the infection can get trapped if the hole closes. Plus, if yours is infected and you don't actually want your hole to close permanently, you can lose the piercing altogether upon removal.

What happens if I pop my piercing bump?

That little bump could be a pustule, which looks like a little pimple or blister — and just like with a pimple or blister, you shouldn't try to pop it. Pustules are a sign of an infection, and they can be filled with blood and even pus. Ouch!

How do I know if my piercing is healing correctly?

You'll know your ear is healed once any discharge, swelling, redness, flaking, or soreness stops. In general, your piercing should continue to feel better with time and a consistent aftercare routine!

Do healed piercings crust?

Crusting after body piercing is normal—this might just be the result of your body trying to heal itself. While perfectly normal, these crusties should be cleaned carefully and thoroughly whenever you notice them.

How long until I can sleep on my lobe piercing?

The general rule of thumb is to avoid sleeping in earrings, with one exception: when you get a new piercing. You'll need to keep these small studs in for 6 weeks or longer, or until your piercer gives you the OK.

How do I know if my piercing is rejecting?

Should I leave the crust on my piercing?

Due to the type of puncture wound a piercing is, it's important to remove the crust that develops around your earring or on the outside of your piercing. This is because air needs to hit the punctured tissue to properly heal your piercing.

What piercing takes the shortest time to heal?

How do I clean the inside of my ear piercing?

Clean with a clean cotton pad or swab dipped in salt solution. You can make this solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Use this around the pierced area a few times a day to remove any bacteria. Dab (don't wipe) the piercing.

How do you clean a piercing?

Clean the piercing with either a saline solution, a fragrance-free antimicrobial soap, or both once or twice per day. Rinse any soap from the piercing. Gently dry the piercing with a clean, disposable paper towel or tissue. Avoid drying with cloth since it may carry germs or catch on the jewelry.

Why is my cartilage piercing itching?

Allergic reaction. An allergic reaction can cause bumps or swelling near the piercing. A person might notice symptoms either shortly after the piercing or after changing the jewelry. Allergic reactions may cause intense itching or pain.

Should I squeeze the pus out of my piercing?

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.

What are Crusties around piercings?

During the healing period, you can expect a bit of a white/yellow crust to form around/behind your jewelry. This crust is really just skin cells that have helped in healing your piercing and have now formed a bit of a scab around it. This doesn't mean it's infected, it's just in the process of healing!

Do piercing infections go away?

Minor pierced ear infections can be treated at home. With proper care, most will clear up in 1 to 2 weeks.