Antibiotic Cream For Piercing Infection

Infected Navel Piercing Rate Risks And Dangers

Contents

• When to see a doctor

The location of the navel, being in a dark and damp place, infections can be common especially if your navel is very deep. You expect to sweet as well as various substances to be deposited on your navel piercing. Despite all these, the infected navel piercing rate is fairly high i.e. in American, navel piercing is the most common accounting for about 33%. Unfortunately, 31% of them have complications, 15.2% needed outpatient consultation, and 0.9% were even hospitalized for treatment.

In terms of risks, navel piercing is the next most risky piercing after the eye as the navel piercing hole can be a gateway for infections reaching your abdominal cavities. As steadyhealth.com reports, It is risky because needles used to pierce the skin can spread infections because the ring will always touch your clothing.

Furthermore, there are inherent risks of injuries, belly button piercing scars, keloid formation, piercing rejection, stretch from weight gain or pregnancy, among other minor discomforts.

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
• produce a pale fluid that forms a crust

If you’ve had an ear or nose cartilage piercing, small lumps can sometimes form around the piercing.

The lumps, called granulomas, are trapped fluid. You can treat them by soaking a pad in warm water then holding the pad against them once a day.

Use A Warm Compress Or Sea Salt Soak

If you have a small, localized infection, you may be able to improve drainage of the infection by applying a warm compress to the nipple. You can also soak the nipple in warm water mixed with sea salt. Do these two things for several minutes two to three times per day. Afterward, gently clean, wash, and dry the piercing area.

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Apply A Topical Antibiotic Ointment

Applying a topical antibiotic ointment recommended by a dermatologist can be a great way to help heal the infected area. After cleaning, gently pat the area dry and pat a small amount of the ointment over the infected area.

If the piercing is hot to the touch and painful, you can cleanse by applying a warm-water compress. You can do this right at home by taking a washcloth, running it under warm water, and then applying directly to the infected site. Just make sure that the cloth is not burning hot. Keep the compress on for 20-30 minutes and repeat as necessary. “Its healed when the skin returns to normal color and is no longer painful or swollen and there is no longer any yellow discharge,” says Zalka.

Consider The Jewelry Material

Getty Images

If you have a nickel sensitivity, you may not be able to handle jewelry made of nickel-laden metals. “Its best to see your dermatologist or other health care provider as an infection can be mistaken for an allergic reaction and vice versa,” says Zalka. “Some people react to the metal in the piercing object. This can happen to those with a nickel allergy.” Silver, gold, and steel may still have small amounts of nickel in them enough to bother someone who’s very sensitive. In this case, niobium or titanium jewelry may be necessary. You may also have allergic reactions to other kinds of metals, even if they don’t contain nickel. Always consider the jewelry first if you’re having a problem, and have it changed to a high-quality metal if you think that could be the cause.

An infection does not necessarily mean that you need to remove the jewelry and jump ship from your new piercing. Many infections will clear up with some extra care, and you can keep your new jewelry. “Minor infections can be managed conservatively with saltwater or sterile saline soaks, and it is not necessary to remove the jewelry,” says Chang.

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What Antibiotics Treat Ear Piercing Infection

Most infected ear piercings are caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and so you need an antibiotic that covers this bacteria, such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin.

What antibiotic is best for piercing infection?

Treatment / Management Conservative treatment of minor local infections includes warm compress and over-the-counter or prescription topical antibiotics such as bacitracin or mupirocin. Oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin provide coverage for streptococcus and staphylococcus.

What is the fastest way to heal an infected ear piercing?

How are infected ear piercings treated?

What Do Doctors Prescribe For Infected Piercings

Oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin provide coverage for streptococcus and staphylococcus. If concerns for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus exist, then oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole confers adequate coverage.

10 Related Question Answers Found

Treating the infection at home

How are infected ear piercings treated?

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Signs Of An Infection

• Breathing difficulties
• Swollen mouth and tongue that blocks the airway

No matter where you were pierced, there is a risk of infection, hepatitis B or C, and tetanus. You may also develop a nasal staph infection if the jewelry is pierced through the hard nasal cartilage instead of the softer, fleshy part of the septum.

Some sites are more prone to infection than others. For example, high-rim ear piercings in the cartilage lead to infections more often than ear lobe piercings because they dont have as much blood flow, says Shannahan.

Cleaning The Infected Cartilage Piercing

It takes a long time for infected cartilage piercings to heal because there is not enough blood circulation to that area. But it can heal faster with proper aftercare. Here is how to clean the pierced area for a more rapid healing process.

The recommended method for cleaning and aftercare is a saline solution. A saline solution is a mix of sea salt and warm water. Before applying on pierced site, make sure the area is properly cleaned and free of dirt, pus, dead tissue, and other material. Some individuals find the use of antibacterial soap more effective, but then you shouldnt have sensitive skin.

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Safe Cleaning Product For Piercings

If youre looking for a safe product to clean your piercings, Dr. Piercing Aftercare can help.

At Dr. Piercing Aftercare, weve developed convenient medicated swabs that you can use to clean your piercings and keep infection away. We are proud of our products. They are made and tested in a cGMP compliant and FDA-registered facility in America.

We use advanced technology on our swabs for easy application. Each pack contains thirty-six medicated swabs that are proven and tested to promote your bodys natural healing process while preventing infection. Contact us today, or you can check out our website to learn more about our products.

Why Do Sailors Have Tattoos

The origins of the superstitious symbolism is not fully known, but there are two popular reasons behind the meaning of the tattoo. A sailor earns a swallow for every 5,000 miles they travel at sea. This tattoo means the sailor has been around cape horn. These tattoos have meanings and symbols which they represent. Sailors began to get tattoos every time they traveled, commemorating voyages.

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Things You Should Know

• See your doctor if you have an infection. Use an antibiotic cream if the infection is mild, or prescription pills if its serious.
• Treat the infection at home by cleaning the infection with a saline solution 3 times per day.
• Manage the pain with a warm compress or an over-the-counter pain reliever.
• Avoid touching your ear or putting any objects on or over your ear, like headphones.

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A Lump Can Appear Around A New Piercing

Pyogenic granuloma is a medical complication of piercing causing a red or flesh-colored lump near or around the piercing. This can occur from an overgrowth of tissue during wound healing. Keloids are another medical complication of piercing that also results in a flesh-colored bump, usually at the site of the piercing. Specialized treatment from a plastic surgeon or ENT specialist is usually necessary for both of these conditions.

As for Kyla, she was able to avoid surgical treatment because she caught it early enough. She came to the Emergency room late that night, giving up her plans with her friends. Although she had to remove her piercing studs for the infection to heal well, I am hopeful she will have minimal scarring and be able to re-pierce her ear after the infection resolves.

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In Addition An Ointment Is Greasy And Clogs The Pores This Means That The Wound Of The Piercing Can Still Not Heal Properly And Dirt Can Also Easily Stick To The Wound

It is also true that locally applied antibiotics can lead to an allergic reaction with allergic contact eczema as a result. Other possible side effects include itching, rash, redness, swelling, irritation, contact eczema and a burning, pricking or tingling sensation of the skin. The skin can also start to scab as a result of the locally applied antibiotics.

Should there still be an infection, then an antibiotic is often required. With piercings it is much more effective to take antibiotics orally in the form of tablets or capsules. Should it still have to be administered locally for faster functioning, then preferably in the form of a gel.

The difference between the different ways of administration:

• An ointment is made with a greasy base. This is especially suitable for dry skin.
• A cream is less greasy and absorbed faster through the skin. This is for example pleasant when used in the face.
• A gel is not greasy, easily absorbed and dries quickly.
• A capsule or tablet works from the inside so that the wound is not disturbed any further.

Tattoos And Piercings: What The Urgent Care Provider Needs To Know

Urgent message: Tattoos and piercings are becoming commonplace, but patients who experience complications with these forms of body art may present to urgent care centers, as access to dermatology and plastics specialists frequently requires a referral or extended wait periods. The urgent care provider should possess a working knowledge about how tattoos and piercings are performed, how to recognize the complications, and how to treat them appropriately.

Tracey Quail Davidoff, MD

TATTOOS

Introduction The term tattoo is derived from the Tahitian word tattau, which translates to mark.1 Tattoos occur when pigment granules are embedded into the skin either purposefully or accidentally. Purposeful tattoos have been performed for thousands of years to identify individuals, associate them with groups, for protection, and for artistic expression. Accidental tattoos occur when pigment, such as graphite, dirt, or other substances are ground into the skin during an injury. This article will focus on purposeful tattoos.

Previously in the Western world, decorative tattoos were primarily seen in men, especially in members of the armed forces or other groups to inspire solidarity. Beginning in the 1990s, tattooing gained more popularity and is now quite common in young people of both sexes, including professionals.

Figure 1. Henna tattoo. Photo courtesy of Dewanshi Patel, PA-C.

Figure 2. Tattoo, 1 day old. Note the red inflammation around the tattooed area.

PIERCINGS

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Perichondritis: Not Just Simple Cellulitis

Background: Perichondritis is an infection of the connective tissue of the ear that covers the cartilaginous auricle or pinna, excluding the lobule . The term perichondritis is itself a misnomer, as the cartilage is almost always involved, with abscess formation and cavitation . Perichondritis can be a devastating disease, and if left improperly treated, the infection can worsen into a liquefying chondritis resulting in disfigurement and/or loss of the external ear . Unfortunately, misdiagnosis and mistreatment is common. In one small retrospective review, the overwhelming majority of patients presenting to a large general hospital were prescribed antibiotics without appropriate antimicrobial coverage, resulting in a significant number of patients developing chondral deformities or cauliflower ear .

Determine If Your Piercing Is Infected

The first thing is to determine if your piercing is actually infected. âA piercing may be infected if you notice redness, swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth, crusting, and yellow drainage around the piercing site,â says Chang. âMore severe infections can lead to spreading redness/swelling, fevers, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.â

âMy experience is that bellybutton piercings are the ones most at risk for infections. The second most common would be nose piercings,â says Zalka.

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How To Prevent Helix Ear Piercings From Getting Infected

As we said above, the first stage of helix piercing infection prevention is going to a certified and well-reviewed piercing studio. However, there are other things you can do to help ensure the healing process goes smoothly :

Now you know how to heal a helix ear piercing specifically, you can learn some more general piercing care with our guide to treating an infected ear piercing.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Treat an Infected Helix Ear Piercing, we recommend you visit our Beauty & Personal Care category.

Is Infected Ear Piercings Common

Unfortunately, ear infections are common. Every year, millions of people have their ears pierced, but the majority of them do not develop complicationshowever, some experience mild irritation and piercing infections. But, not all piercings heal the same.

Earlobes have a good blood flow, which means they heal quickly, reducing the risk of disease. On the other hand, the ear cartilage is thicker and harder with lesser blood flow. It goes without saying that cartilage piercings are more prone to infection.

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Treatment For Ear Piercing Infection

The infection, as long as it is minor, can be treated at home. The infections in piercings are very hard to treat as they may require antibiotics if the infection gets out of hand. If these infections are not attended properly, you might end up in the hospital as it becomes a serious case.

To prevent yourself from infections or to take care of them at home, read the following tips:

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Who Should Do The Piercing

Only a professional. Some pediatricians do piercings on young children.

Make sure you do research on ear piercing professionals beforehand. Ask people you trust for recommendations, and visit a few piercers to get a feel for the place and person.

Some positives to look for:

• A clean studio with good lighting
• A selection of hypoallergenic jewelry

Ask these questions:

• Do you wear disposable gloves?
• What equipment do you use?
• How do you sterilize it?

Avoid any place where they sterilize equipment in the studios public bathroom.

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How Would You Treat A Tainted Ear Puncturing With Discharge

• Try not to take out the puncturing. Assuming that its new and tainted, your skin will promptly begin to close and it can trap the disease. Not a great time.
• Try not to contact it except if youre cleaning it. Clean up and dry them with paper towels. Not a hand towel that has been utilized a pack and staying nearby. Yarf
• There is compelling reason need to pivot or turn your gems while its new. I think this is as yet suggested now a days, however it simply expands chance of scarring and contamination. It will move and turn normally all alone with ordinary exercises. It doesnt require help. Keep in mind, dont contact it. I must pressure this as much as possible.
• Try not to utilize liquor, hydrogen peroxide or Neosporin. Stringently a saltwater blend or clean saline you can get at the pharmacy. Clean it , dry it delicately with paper towels. If between cleanings you get crusties, dont pick at it. Theyll fall off with the following cleaning. Also, indeed, I realize it sounds unreasonable, yet these items will in all probability hurt more than great.

Sign & Symptoms Of Cartilage Piercing Infections

You dont want to wait until your cartilage piercing is severely infected before commencing treatment, as this increases the chance that youll need to seek medical intervention. If you catch the infection early, theres no reason why you cant treat it effectively at home.

To catch a cartilage piercing infection in the early stages, look for these symptoms:

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