You may also have allergic reactions to other kinds of metals, even if they dont contain nickel. Infection requires aggressive treatment with antibiotics that have good coverage against Staphylococcus species that commonly colonize the nasal mucosa. After a piercing rejection, people should think about what may have caused it. mild heat or warmth. Occasionally, inflammation or infection results in such significant swelling that an earring must be removed. The first thing is to determine if your piercing is actually infected. Petroleum-based creams clog the piercing and hinder your bodys ability to recover. The most common site of piercings is the ear, with increasing popularity involving the mouth, nose, eyebrows, nipples, navel, and genitals. On rare occasions, the infection can spread to the eye as well. Find a clean, safe piercing shop. The single best thing you can do for your piercing is to keep up a regular regimen of salt water soaks. When rejection does happen, it's usually in a flat area of the body. Another serious consequence of oral piercing is compromise of the airway from trauma, tongue swelling, or obstruction by jewelry.1 Securing an adequate airway or endotracheal intubation can be challenging when a patient has a tongue barbell. The pierced hole can be maintained by inserting a ring made from a 20-gauge Teflon catheter with silicone tubing into the hole while the surrounding skin heals.25 Similarly, a loop fashioned from nylon suture material may keep a piercing intact during the healing process. Spray the infected piercing a few times a day and it will clear up. Body Piercing Infections - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf [4] For these reasons, it is necessary to identify and treat the localized infections to prevent severeand life-threatening complications. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Ideally, clean the area with a sterile saline solution or a product recommended by a professional piercer. Did the piercer use appropriate equipment, technique, and jewelry? Excessive rubbing or friction can irritate your skin and delay healing. Scientists use genetic rewiring to increase lifespan of cells, Beyond amyloid and tau: New targets in developing dementia treatments, Napping longer than 30 minutes linked to higher risk of obesity and high blood pressure, Activity 'snacks' could lower blood sugar, complication risk in type 1 diabetes, In Conversation: Investigating the power of music for dementia. Family physicians should be prepared to address complications of body piercing and provide accurate information to patients. [9] Common laboratory testing and imaging may include complete blood count, electrolytes, renal function, lactic acid, plain film x-ray, or ultrasound.[8]. When it glides easily, remove the excess ointment as it dries out and causes crusties. Anyone who suspects a piercing infection should discuss it with a doctor. It is essential to select a piercer who is familiar with the bodys anatomy, the healing process, and where best to place a piercing. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which Thicker-gauge jewelry or a different shape or material may help the piercing heal and settle into place better. They may also prescribe topical antibiotics, like bacitracin or mupirocin. For infections involved with penetrating trauma, as could be the case with a recent body piercing, treatment with antimicrobials directed against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species are recommended (level 2). Also, dont have a piercing performed with a piercing gun on any part of your body except your ear. Pointed earring posts may cause pressure sores or postauricular skin irritation when worn during sleep. Oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or clindamycin provide coverage for streptococcus and staphylococcus. This decreases the risk of infection. Step 5: When cleaning your piercing, make sure you clean both sides of your ears and then pat it dry with a clean paper towel. The earlobe is a common site for hypertrophic scarring and keloid formation. Once youve done a successful patch test, you have options for how to add tea tree oil to your cleansing routine. That means its only used on one customer and then thrown away. Then, as instructed on the product label, apply a tiny amount of an over-the-counter antibiotic cream (Neosporin, bacitracin, etc.). Never take out a piercing if you suspect it might be infected. Careful placement of jewelry and avoidance of rigidly fixed jewelry may minimize these problems. How To Spot An Infected Piercing What To Do With Infected Piercing, Can You Take Multivitamins With Antibiotics, How To Order Antibiotics Without A Prescription, What Antibiotics Treat Strep Throat In Adults, When To Give Antibiotics For Copd Exacerbation, How To Beat A Sinus Infection Without Antibiotics, Over The Counter Antibiotics For Piercing Infections, Can You Take More Than One Antibiotic At A Time, How Do You Cure A Bladder Infection Without Antibiotics, What To Do For Sinus Infection Without Antibiotics, Pet Antibiotics Without Vet Prescription Uk. In this case, niobium or titanium jewelry may be necessary. Using antibiotic ointment on the affected area. Minor infections may be treated with the following: Over-the-counter medicines you rub on your skin, such as an antibiotic ointment A warm compress applied to the piercing Mild sea salt soaks Questions for your doctor Could I have been exposed to a disease while being pierced? Patient information: See related handout on body piercing, written by the author of this article. Delay getting hair cut or colored, or eyebrows waxed during the initial healing period. , can you put Neosporin on an eyebrow piercing? Bone A, Ncube F, Nichols T, Noah ND. Key Ingredients. I got my eyebrow pierced over a year ago and recently it keeps getting infected. Copyright 2023 American Academy of Family Physicians. Basing on the fact that infants still have developing immune systems, Wendy Sue Swanson, M.D., strongly encourages parents to be patient until their babies have reached 6 months or older prior to piercing plans. Describe the importance of improving care coordination among the interprofessional team to enhance the delivery of care for patients affected by body piercing infections. Piercing your eyelids can expose you to bacteria, leading to an infection. Keloid scars occur when the skin overreacts to the injury, after which they grow and darken. Edema frequently develops after tongue piercing, so a longer barbell is recommended initially.16. If the patient has not gotten a tetanus vaccination or boosterwithin the last five years, then this should be updated if presenting with an infection after a recentbody piercing. Family physicians should help patients make informed decisions about body piercings and counsel them about the importance of universal precautions. The skin version is toxic to the cornea so I would not use it in the eye as the package labeling suggests. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. You can: A cartilage piercing infection occurs when bacteria enter the opening of your new piercing.