Getting new piercings can be very exciting. With the range of trendy jewelry pieces are sold in stores and online, you can choose to style it the way you want. To avoid any skin issues or infection, you should wait for some time until your piercing has healed completely.
If you notice any infection symptoms, you should rush to your skin specialist to get it treated at your earliest. Ignoring a potential infection may lead to further complications. Therefore, you must know different signs of infection.
4 Signs your Piercing May Be Infected
If you have gotten a new facial or body piercing, you should take good care of your piercing to prevent any risk of skin conditions. As it heals, you should avoid changing the jewelry as it can become a source of infection.
If you are unsure about determining whether your piercing is normal or infected, here is a list of signs, your piercing may be infected.
1. Unusual Pain
If you have started to experience an unusual pain around your piercing, you will likely suffer from an infection. When an infection arises, it tends to get excruciatingly painful with blood or pus coming out of it. If you notice pain with a discharge from your piercing, it’s high time you should visit a doctor. Be it your ears, nose, tongue, or eyebrows, all kinds of facial piercings are prone to an infection due to the build-up of bacteria around them.
2. Small Lumps
In most cases, small bumps can develop near your ear piercing, creating an ugly look. However, sometimes, you may notice a lump filled with fluid forming around your nose or ear piercing. To get rid of the lump, you need to soak a piece of clean cloth in warm water and gently press it on the lump. After repeating this step 2 to 3 times, you will notice the lump vanishing with time. If it doesn’t disappear after a few tries, it may be a sign of infection.
3. Excessive Itching
It is common to experience some level of itching with a new piercing. It may appear tender, with some flakiness and crusts forming around it. However, if it has swollen with redness around it, it may be infected.
4. Changes in Body Temperature
With a new piercing, you should observe your body’s response to it. If your body’s temperature rises, making you feel hot and shivery is likely due to an infection. In such cases, you should go for a checkup with a qualified general physician.
The healing may last a few months. You can expedite the process by cleaning your piercing with saline solution at least twice a day. Also, it would be best if you keep an eye on any changes that may occur. By doing so, you can prevent your piercing from infections.