Infected piercings

For the first few weeks a new piercing might:

• be tender, itchy, and the surrounding area may look slightly red on white skin, or a little darker than usual on dark skin
• produce a pale fluid that forms a crust

If you've had an ear or nose cartilage piercing, small lumps can sometimes form around the piercing.

The lumps, called granulomas, are trapped fluid. You can treat them by soaking a pad in warm water then holding the pad against them once a day.

Signs of an infection

Your piercing might be infected if:

• the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour)
• there's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow
• you feel hot, cold or shivery, or generally unwell

You may need antibiotics if your piercing is infected. This can be a cream, ointment, or tablets.

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of a piercing getting infected.

• choose a qualified, experienced and licensed piercer

• clean your piercing twice a day

• use warm, salty water to soften any crusting

• gently turn the jewellery while cleaning the piercing

• use a clean paper towel to dry the piercing

• gargle with salty water or an alcohol-free mouthwash if you have a mouth piercing

• do not do your own piercings (you're much more likely to get an infection)

• do not use cotton wool to clean the piercing (use a cotton bud or pad)

• do not pick at any crusting

• do not twist or turn jewellery when the piercing is dry

• do not use a towel to dry the piercing

• do not have sex until a genital piercing has healed

• do not have oral sex until a mouth piercing has healed

• do not go swimming for the first 24 hours after a piercing

Signs of an infected piercing include blood or pus coming out of the piercing, or the area around it feeling swollen, painful or hot.

An infected piercing can be treated with antibiotics.

There are things you can do to prevent infections in a new piercing, including choosing a qualified piercer and cleaning the piercing correctly.