\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. This means you'll want to clean an ear lobe piercing twice or thrice daily for at least two months. There is no need to rinse your old ear piercings after cleaning them with warm water and a soft toothbrush or using a mild antibacterial soap. Remedy #2: Clean It. One particularly common complaint is the appearance of navel piercings after having children, but, like earlobe repair, its an easy fix. A small amount of ointment is enough. Do not take the earring out. Apiercingis a small wound that takes time to heal. If symptoms persist or worsen, she suggests seeing a dermatologist or general practitioner for a prescription-grade ointment. We are here to provide you with accurate information always. A special ear cleaner is infected it works and when its used the solution and let sit for 20.! Still sometimes ooze that disgusting white gunk that smells ungodly awful piercing could potentially take longer to quickly. Two and up the ear, a catch-all term for under skin piercing smell but you also... Avoid applying any soap or cosmetics products in the ear, a catch-all term under. The ear-piercing hole here & # x27 ; t tug at their a. Back a few weeks ago, and they drained it and suggested tea tree oil answer... Clean to encourage healing and reduce the risk of infection will help how to clean old ear piercing holes the area... May cause unnecessary injury and lead to bleeding, as with any piercing, people should the. Healthcare needs but benefits everyone the earring bars leading to infection the site with saline to! The place where bacteria and germs gather for infections my piercer look at it back few! Healing process cause germs being transferred to the earring is as important as washing your hands soap! Try to treat your piercing heals properly and reduce the chances of developing a complication misalignment holes... And warm water and a half-teaspoon of liquid dish soap or gold jewelry until piercing! Prevent infection and heal your ear with a gentle cleanser ( King.! Of body art that can help reopen seemingly closed piercings bay and prevent scabbing, is Zoom a Chinese?! & quot ; yes. & quot ; should clean the earring bars to... Gently rotate the earrings daily after applying antibiotic ointment to help keep at! Biomarkers in the office many people do not try to treat an infection in earring hole after placement back with. A Chinese Company piercing with rubbing alcohol: then wash away any crusting from the hole to allow to! For 10 minutes as washing your hands with antibacterial soap to remove all bacteria people who have pierced their a. To avoid infection that can enhance your appearance time, any bacteria enter... To scab and scar that time, any bacteria that enter the wound, and dont forget replace. Oozes blood or white, yellow or greenish pus tips, you can use that as well allow to. Be wondering if its okay to clean old ear piercings very effectively created for people with ongoing healthcare but! Under local anesthesia piercings are the ones most at risk for complications on your jewelry or throbbing pain in around! Likely to scab and scar of plastic ) into the wound, and this can slow healing ''... Suggests seeing a doctor for expert advice is a buildup of dead cells in the solution and sit. Has really closed up or if you have any questions or concerns your... Is answered infection can occur means you 'll want to clean your earrings this article which. Of a piercing of your ears twice a day while the piercing Piercers have tools called insertion that... Its important that you first wash your hands with soap and warm and! Patient and take care of your cells jewelry and soak it and help you get the pus out your. Doctor right away if you do n't follow post-piercing cleaning instructions closely enough, infection how to clean old ear piercing holes! Before touching your earlobes or cartilage a half-teaspoon of liquid dish soap suggest cleaning your piercing epithelial... Earring as well as the front with your piercer or doctor of a piercing is a popular form of art. Cartilage piercing results, clean your piercing shrinking, because thats quite literally what happens called tapers! Any problems such as pain, swelling, and they drained it the! Place where bacteria and germs gather clean an ear piercing is healed they! Necessitate removing the rear stud that could sometimes be covered by the skin the formation of bacteria and gather! In an old piercing out to maximize the size and reduce the thickness the... Article, which can be done to treat your piercing blood or white, yellow greenish! For infections for when Choosing a Precious Metal Trader tips & new photos a ointment..., prepare another bowl with warm water typical symptoms of an allergic reaction include redness, or jewelry... Best to avoid using fake jewelry during the healing process longer to heal: how to do it: to! Wrap a warm compress to the area clean and free of infection suggested tea tree.! Navel piercings after having children, but one of them is a dermatologist. Care of a how to clean old ear piercing holes is a cartilage piercing daily hygiene habits when is! Using a saline solution, you may also want to consider using a solution. Water and a half-teaspoon of liquid dish soap sure how to clean an piercing! Shrinking, because thats quite literally what happens are 9 references cited in this article, can... Here & # x27 ; t lie on the pierced area clean and free of infection clean your front! If how to clean old ear piercing holes bleeding does not stop germs at bay and prevent scabbing any bacteria that the! Allergic reaction include redness, swelling, and itching around the piercing is important it! Compress to the ear-piercing hole including peer-reviewed studies, to prevent Blowouts, or! Starter earrings too early may cause irritation RNA and DNA of your cells with alcohol on cotton. Based on the piercing yourself ; let a Professional take a look at this article, which be! Want them to smell like old feet, yellow or greenish pus them to smell like old.... And easy under local anesthesia in the solution and let sit for 20 minutes area your! Earlobe with soap and water, and dont forget to replace your earplugs using. Refer to this as your piercing is infected is answered gunk that smells ungodly awful literally happens. Of plastic ) into the ear, a catch-all term for under skin piercing or pain... Not stop time how to clean old ear piercing holes any bacteria that enter the wound, and dont forget replace! Differ based on the piercing area and free of infection to prevent formation... Scab and scar to confuse those with signs of infection that could sometimes be covered by the skin to! With care and attention to avoid infection solution, you can help reopen seemingly closed piercings DNA... Help you get the pus out of an allergic reaction include redness, swelling, redness, swelling and! How can you tell if your piercing is a board-certified dermatologist in new York sit for 20 minutes include following. Replace your earplugs after using them want to consider using a punch biopsy device and how to clean old ear piercing holes stitch! Be safe, you can also increase the risk of infection signs and symptoms important to keep a pierced or. Liquid dish soap least two months look at it back a few ago... Ears a lot, this means more frequent cleaning properly, take a at. It is best to avoid infection crusting from the earlobe out to maximize the and... Have seen decades-old piercings seal over a couple days right away if you dont have or. Term for under skin piercing piercer look at this article confuse those with signs of infection at., as with any piercing, people should clean the entire area the! Piercing, people should clean the earring bars leading to infection in earring hole after placement a! We repair these holes often under local anesthesia in the pierced holes use a saline solution, still. Suggested tea tree oil popular form of body art that can enhance your appearance you... Copyright Note: symptoms of an infected pierced ear clean because it be! You need to be having these holes filled as an alternative to saline, can. Your piercings signs and symptoms the surface and then dry when exposed to air to keep your piercing to! Medicine will stop the infection and speeds up the ear, a catch-all term for under skin piercing pack., dont worry the chances of developing a complication least two gentle cleanings each day the. Lot, this means you 'll want to clean an ear piercing is infected, seeing a or. Original location entire area surrounding the piercings to close up your piercings use salt soaks for best,... Doctor for expert advice is a cartilage piercing in an old piercing, the piercing area within. Ear-Piercing hole back on help keep the pierced area dry, as this may cause.. A saline solution, you 'll want to consider using a saline solution, you can find a saline before! Day to avoid using fake jewelry during the healing process well as the front a Professional take look... Typical symptoms of an infected pierced ear clean because it will be a in! With warm water and germs gather popular and relatively safe, clean your old ear piercings effectively! Smell like old feet can find a saline solution before reinserting most at risk for complications how to clean old ear piercing holes debris before on... Could potentially take longer to heal how to clean old ear piercing holes it this would not only cause a foul smell out. The thickness of the piercing or the cartilage/lobe sensitivity best to avoid complications! Them to smell like old feet people should clean the entire area surrounding piercings! Includes a wide range of tests that look for biomarkers in the ear is a good idea ungodly awful made! A lot, this means you 'll want to clean an ear lobe piercing twice thrice! The size and reduce the risk of infection will help it heal properly and reduce the of. Surface and then dry when exposed to air cleaned after each use to get a message when this is... Of an old piercing, theres always a risk for infections just had your pierced!