How to Treat Piercing Infections

Infected PiercingPiercing infections are uncomfortable. While they are a common problem with body piercings it’s vital to remember that most piercings do not get infected. Proper procedure and proper aftercare will prevent most infections. It means you have to choose your body piercing studio and your piercer carefully, and it also means you should clean your new piercing regularly and perform all aftercare instructions.

That being said, infections do happen from time to time. The good news is that most of them are not serious and can be treated easily. However, it’s vital to know that infections can pose a serious risk for your health so you should always treat them seriously.

Seek Medical Help

If you think you might have an infection in your piercing, it’s best to contact your doctor. Do not try to heal yourself on your own: it’s better to seek professional medical help. Even if your doctor says it’s nothing alarming, it’s best to make sure. Similarly, do not rely on advice given by your piercer: if in doubt, always seek medical help. While piercers are knowledgeable professionals who know a lot about piercings and aftercare, only your doctor can tell you how to treat an infection and only your doctor can tell how serious a problem is. It’s always better to be told it’s nothing serious than to wait a lot until the infection is well underway.

That being said, you don’t have to rush to your doctor every time you notice any slight change with your piercing. It’s important to pay attention and observe your piercing to see how changes develop. Most problems are insignificant and can go with a bit of cleaning and extra care. That being said, your piercing should never worsen: if it becomes more tender, or painful, or red, or swollen, it’s a sign the infection is underway. Infections are serious so if your condition worsens it’s vital to seek medical help.

Keep in mind: it’s much better to take your jewelry out and lose your piercing than to endanger your health. You can always get repierced later, once the infection is cleared. You don’t want to risk your health or permanent tissue damage.

Home Remedy

There are some effective home remedies you can try in case of a mild infection. Keep in mind, however, that this is not a substitute for a medical advice and that you should visit your doctor in case your infection worsens or if symptoms persist.

Salt water works great against infections. Saline solution is the best cleaner for your new piecing, and it will also help clean your piercing if you have a mild infection. To make a salt-water soak for your piercing, simply dissolve one teaspoon of sea salt in one cup of warm water. Make sure everything is clean and sterile.

To apply to your piercing, simply soak the piercing using a cup (just like you did during aftercare) or use a clean washcloth saturated with the solution. This treatment should be done 2-3 times per day. Apply this salt solution for 10 to 15 minutes per session.

In the case of a mild infection, this remedy should help. In case you don’t notice any improvement, seek medical help.

Additional Tips

  • Avoid any anti-biotic creams or other similar products because they can easily trap any dirt inside the piercing. These creams will also prevent piercing from breathing.
  • Do not remove jewelry on your own. Once the jewelry is removed, the piercing might close, which will trap pus and bacteria inside your body. You need to let the infected piercing breathe. If jewelry has to be removed, let your doctor do it.
  • Keep in mind that infections can lead to tissue damage and other health problems. They are not a joke so you should take them seriously.
  • Never avoid to seek medical help just because you want to keep your piercing. It’s much better to heal the infection, even if it mean to retire a piercing. Once you are healthy and everything is settled you can get pierced again.
About Melina Jackson:
Melina is a staff writer, author and researcher for TheChainGang. She covers numerous subjects, from body jewelry to kinky adult toys. In addition to this, Melina also provides occasional adult toy reviews written in an interesting and sexy manner. She says: “I’m happy and proud to be a part of TheChainGang team. I enjoy every research because I know how much importance TheChainGang places on customer satisfaction and providing accurate and up to date information. I particularly like sex toy reviews: they are fun to write and experience”. In addition to writing and researching, Melina provides online research results and handy information for buyers interested in accurate and easily understandable tips and advice on choosing the best adult toys and body jewelry.

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