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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Swelling And Pus Formation At The Ear Piercing Site?

Single piercing on both ear lopes, which I've had since my teens, have become itchy & irritated so I've stopped using earrings for about 2 months. The pierced area started itching at first, then some redness. I tried hydrogen peroxide to clean my earlobes daily but no improvement so tried alcohol & applied neosporin, but that seems to have made it worse. Both lobes look like it's a little swollen and is now weepy, gets crusty on front & back of each earlobe & looks like pus from the hole. I only wear sterling silver wired earrings instead of posts. What is going on and what should I do? I was about to try witch hazel. Kindly advise. Thank you, K.D.
Tue, 7 Nov 2017
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Dentist,  's  Response
Hi..
Thanks for the query..

It looks like you are not compatible to the earring material and the symptoms of itchy, red and weepy ear piercing site is commonly seen due to it..

It is because the metal degrades or reacts when it comes in contact with air, water etc.
The degradation products causes an allergic reaction that is inturn the cause of itchy, redness, swelling etc..

So first of all you should get the symptoms resolved..

You can start cleaning the earlobes with antiseptic solution like Povidone Iodine and then apply a combination of a steroid and antiseptic ointment..
You can also do cool compresses over the earlobes.
If there is infection then a short script of antibiotics can be taken..

Once it heals you can wear gold or plastic earrings as they are inert materials and will not cause reaction..

Hope this helps..

Regards.
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What Causes Swelling And Pus Formation At The Ear Piercing Site?

Hi.. Thanks for the query.. It looks like you are not compatible to the earring material and the symptoms of itchy, red and weepy ear piercing site is commonly seen due to it.. It is because the metal degrades or reacts when it comes in contact with air, water etc. The degradation products causes an allergic reaction that is inturn the cause of itchy, redness, swelling etc.. So first of all you should get the symptoms resolved.. You can start cleaning the earlobes with antiseptic solution like Povidone Iodine and then apply a combination of a steroid and antiseptic ointment.. You can also do cool compresses over the earlobes. If there is infection then a short script of antibiotics can be taken.. Once it heals you can wear gold or plastic earrings as they are inert materials and will not cause reaction.. Hope this helps.. Regards.