Well i got my tragus pierced last tuesday so that's... 10 days ago. It was absolutely fine at first and i didn't have any problems with pain etc.
Until last night when it started to feel really sore. I noticed before i went out in the evening that it was slightly swollen, whereas before it hadn't swollen at all. I've now woken up today and it is much more sore, and very swollen.
I have just joined this site today so only just read that we should really be cleaning it with simply soap and water, before this i had been using a "Topical Irrigation Solution" given to me by the piercer which says it contains 0.9% Sodium Chloride. If i'm not mistaken that is the chemical solution for salt?
I realised taking anti-inflammatory tablets would help so i have been taking them for a few days but the tragus seems to have got worse.
Extra information, it is pierced with a barbell not a ring, and i have been cleaning it twice a day.
Any help will be much appreciated!
Our aftercare is soap and water and yes, sodium chloride is salt. We do not recommend salt in any form because it is dehydrating to the tissues and this causes dryness and irritation.
Your pain and swelling after 10 days tells us that you have been using this product quite frequently and is the problem. Please STOP using this product and leave the piercing alone.
Taking anti-inflamatory medication is helpful but have you stopped doing the salt water treatment? If not, then you are still irritating the situation and the tablets are not able to do more than they are.
We also pierce with a ring and not a barbell because the ring allows for maximum swelling without putting unnecessary pressure on the piercing. A barbell can only support so much swelling and then the pressure usually is so great that it becomes painful.
We would suggest changing the jewellery but we usually wait for 6 weeks before doing that.
You can do a warm water compress to help calm the area and then use a Q-tip to remove any crusties that have formed. Otherwise, please leave it alone.
So it's been nearly a month since i got my piercing done and the swelling i talked about previously is still there. however it doesnt look red and isn't painful its just big and slightly hard. it hasn't engulfed the piercing or anything so there is still slight room at the back.
I stopped using the solution they gave me completely and have just left it alone like you suggested. Also, I have been using the warm water compresses and removing the crust on occasions etc but still no improvement.
a day ago, the little bump that many people have talked about, has formed. it seems pretty normal to happen i was just wondering if you knew roughly how long it would take for the tragus to go back down to its normal size and the bump to disappear. and just wondering if im doing everything right still.
Thanks for your help so far hope you can help again!
Aftercare is just to kickstart the body to do the healing and that is why we only clean any piercing for about 2 weeks. You can look on our forum under Blackstar Aftercare for complete directions. But please do NOT start cleaning again. Your piercing is over a month old and does not need further cleaning.
You have been using the salt water product for almost a month and you have recently started leaving it alone and doing warm water compresses. You have to give the body a chance to deal with the serious irritation that you have been causing and then it can return to healing.
Please be patient. It will take a little bit of time, how much we cannot say as each person is different. We can say that we have seen improvement for most within the first week. How long until the tragus returns to normal, will depend on you again. At our shop by 6 weeks, clients are able to change their jewellery and the swelling has completely dissipated. You may have to give it a couple of weeks more possibly more.
Important that you do not stress over the piercing and let your body heal itself. If you injure it again by bumping it, this process can be delayed.
Ok thanks very much for the advice, much appreciated. it seems to be settling down a lot more now so i'm just going to do what you said, wait it out and see what happens without stress.
thanks again, i'll keep you posted!
Glad to know that your piercing is doing better.
