How to tell if your piercing is infected

She decided on a body piercing, found a reputable piercer, and survived her appointment. Now your piercing is doing something unexpected and you’re worried it might be infected. Are these the normal signs of healing, or are you and your piercing headed for trouble? Read on to learn how to tell if your piercing is infected.

Anytime your body sustains an injury, including a piercing, you may see all five signs of inflammation: redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and loss of function. These are normal and indicate that your immune system is working, but they can also be signs of infection. The difference is a matter of degree and time.

Symptoms

Your piercer should tell you what to expect during healing. If you know what is normal, you will be able to detect problems early. Let’s see the possible symptoms of infection:

Redness: It is normal for a new piercing to be slightly red because blood flow to the area is naturally increased. Sure signs of trouble include redness that won’t go away, an expanding area of ​​redness, or red streaks leading away from the piercing.

Heat: Heat is also produced due to increased blood flow and indicates a problem if it increases over time, is hot and not just warm, or simply does not go away.

Swelling: Swelling is caused by a buildup of fluid. Oral piercings are especially prone to this – a tongue piercing can take anywhere from a week to ten days to set. Swelling is problematic if it doesn’t go down as quickly as expected or if it gets worse. Your jewelry should be long enough to accommodate the swelling. Otherwise, it is very difficult to clean and there is a risk that the jewelry will go through the piercing and be lost under the skin.

Pain: It is normal for a piercing to be tender for a few days, especially if it is subject to movement (eg tongue, lip) or aggravated by clothing or blows. Pain that worsens over time or is extreme indicates a problem.

Loss of function: An eyebrow may not have much of a job to do, but a piercing will delay the tongue, and an infection will make the situation worse. A pierced body part that won’t move or hurts a lot is not normal; you may have an infection.

two more symptoms

Fever/chills/nausea

– Fever, sometimes accompanied by chills and nausea, is a definite sign of trouble. You have a localized infection at the piercing site or a more serious (life-threatening) systemic infection. See a doctor if you have a high and/or persistent fever, chills, or nausea. These are not normal reactions to the piercing and you may need antibiotics.

Pus/discharge: Not all discharge indicates infection. During the early stages of healing, a healthy piercing will discharge lymph, which is just blood plasma without the larger proteins. It is a clear or slightly yellowish liquid that dries to a crust and is easily removed with lukewarm water.

Pus, on the other hand, is definitely a sign of infection. It is mainly made up of dead white blood cells and bacteria. It may be whitish, yellow, green, or gray, and may have streaks of blood and odor. Yellow, green, or foul-smelling pus indicates a serious infection. Seek medical attention.

To do

If you think you have an infection, contact your piercer right away. Piercers are often more knowledgeable than doctors, who may be biased or unfamiliar with piercings. However, if you think you are in trouble or if your condition worsens significantly, you should seek medical attention. If you miss a piercing, you can redo it; it is not worth risking your life or severe tissue damage.

Mild infections can probably be treated at home. A time-tested remedy is soaking in salt water. Dissolve 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of sea salt in 1 cup (250 ml) of warm water (not so hot that it burns you) in a clean cup, ideally a disposable plastic one for each treatment. Soak the piercing or make a compress with a clean cloth soaked in salt water. Do this two or three times a day, fifteen minutes per session.

Avoid antibiotic creams or ointments, as they trap dirt and debris and don’t allow the piercing to breathe. Do not remove jewelry from an infected piercing. This could allow the piercing to seal up, trapping pus and causing an abscess. Pay special attention to infections in facial or oral piercings: their proximity to the brain makes them especially dangerous.

Prevention

The best strategy is prevention; Follow your piercer’s aftercare instructions. He or she will recommend a gentle cleanser and cleaning schedule. Never touch a piercing with dirty hands. Never use alcohol, peroxide, iodine-based products, or strong antibacterial soaps. They are too strong and will dry out the skin, kill the cells and impede the healing process.