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I wasn't going to post about this initially, but I figured what the heck... I'm sure there's someone out there who is curious about this sort of thing or may have some helpful advice to offer.
I had my helix pierced a few months ago. It's snazzy, and I love it.
I had a titanium five stone (mint green cubic zirconia) cluster from Anatametal put in the day I had it pierced. (I also had my second lobe done — which you can see in the above picture as well — with the same metals and stones on the same day.) I am beyond thrilled with it.
However, it recently became infected. I stupidly went in a pool while on vacation and — seeing as it can take a very long time for cartilage to heal — that's not something you typically want to do... My whole ear has swollen up (though, it's not quite to twice the size frightening). It just looks puffy and oddly smooth. There was a little bump on the back side of the piercing that had visible puss within it.
For those who are unaware, you do not remove jewelry from an infected piercing. That runs the risk of the infection becoming worse. Instead, you treat it by using saline to remove any crusties (dried blood or skin oils) and monitor it carefully. In the event that it doesn't seem to be getting better — or if it gets worse at all — it's best then to go to your doctor for antibiotics.
My little "bump" burst a few days ago and started leaking puss. Yes, very gross. However, it ended up being a very small amount to what I expected, and then yesterday it started bleeding freely. Like, blood was dripping everywhere. This is because there was so much pressure built up from the swelling, so once all that puss was out the blood only had one place to go — out, out, out!
The swelling hasn't gone down noticeably, but it may take a few days. Even so, I will continue to monitor it. If it gets bigger at all you can bet I'll be at my doctor's in a heartbeat.
I had my helix pierced a few months ago. It's snazzy, and I love it.
I had a titanium five stone (mint green cubic zirconia) cluster from Anatametal put in the day I had it pierced. (I also had my second lobe done — which you can see in the above picture as well — with the same metals and stones on the same day.) I am beyond thrilled with it.
However, it recently became infected. I stupidly went in a pool while on vacation and — seeing as it can take a very long time for cartilage to heal — that's not something you typically want to do... My whole ear has swollen up (though, it's not quite to twice the size frightening). It just looks puffy and oddly smooth. There was a little bump on the back side of the piercing that had visible puss within it.
For those who are unaware, you do not remove jewelry from an infected piercing. That runs the risk of the infection becoming worse. Instead, you treat it by using saline to remove any crusties (dried blood or skin oils) and monitor it carefully. In the event that it doesn't seem to be getting better — or if it gets worse at all — it's best then to go to your doctor for antibiotics.
My little "bump" burst a few days ago and started leaking puss. Yes, very gross. However, it ended up being a very small amount to what I expected, and then yesterday it started bleeding freely. Like, blood was dripping everywhere. This is because there was so much pressure built up from the swelling, so once all that puss was out the blood only had one place to go — out, out, out!
The swelling hasn't gone down noticeably, but it may take a few days. Even so, I will continue to monitor it. If it gets bigger at all you can bet I'll be at my doctor's in a heartbeat.
