Skip Nav

Ear Piercing Infection

How to Deal With and Prevent a Painful Piercing Infection

Ear Piercing Infection

As a full-blown skin-care junkie, one who keeps a stack of index cards filled with the names of ingredients and their benefits next to her bed, I have an embarrassing admission to make. I almost landed myself in the emergency room because I failed to recognise that two of my piercings had become badly infected. I'd never had cartilage piercings before so I thought it was normal to wake up to pain and discomfort five months after the fact. Did I question why they were still bleeding every time I cleaned them? Yes. But not as much as I should have, and trust me, I should have.

Luckily, I happened to have an appointment at Russak + Aesthetic Center for a Skinscope LED session. While talking with my esthetician, Meredith, she immediately noticed my piercings (in my upper ear) were a mess. She called in Dr. Russak and it was official — I was in need of some serious treatment. I quickly learned that had it not been for Dr. Russak and her team, I may have ended up in the hospital.

To help others avoid this painful debacle I spoke to Dr. Russak to bring you everything you need to know about how to care for piercings, how to tell if they've become infected, and what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation. Related stories:
How to Avoid Using Toxic, Expired Skin Care and Makeup Products

If You Overuse These Beauty Products, It Could Actually Be Hazardous to Your Health

12 Beauty Uses For Baking Soda and 1 You Should Never Try

Latest Beauty