Wearing your favourite pair of earrings or zhooshing up your outfit with a stunning pair or earrings sometimes just gives you that extra boost. Most people even have more than one piercing in their ears or on different parts of their bodies. As an increasingly popular form of self-expression, a new glittering earring may seem like a harmless way to express oneself. However, it can sometimes turn out to be the beginning of an unexpected battle with a piercing infection.
After experiencing a piercing infection on her belly piercing, Gelo Mogale from Witpoortie in Johannesburg says she found ways to assist her on social media.
“My belly piercing became infected after having it for six months, and I started noticing the signs of an infection in the seventh month. I went to YouTube to check out videos that can help with infected piercings,” she says.
She did not seek medical attention as she had no complications from the infection at that stage.
“Salt and water really helped me, but we all heal differently, so it’s best to just follow all the aftercare rules they tell you to do.”
Gelo Mogale
Khali Miya from Johannesburg, who had two helix piercings, says the first time she got a piercing infection was on her left ear after having the piercing for four months.
“I happened to use rose water to spray it instead of saline (salt and water), which is what I use for my piercings. My friend at the time was the one who noticed a bump around my piercing, which she thought was a developing keloid.
“I had never had an infected piercing before, so I ignored the tingling and burning sensation I had earlier that day as I thought it was just from the rose water and nothing hectic, which I now know are signs of infection.”
Khali Miya
“I decided to remove that piercing about two weeks ago, which is now almost three years after I got it. It was still getting infected and never healing. At some point, I wanted to seek medical attention due to the recurrent infections, but I just learned to drain the abscess and clean it up,” Miya explains.
She adds that getting a piercing inflicts trauma on the skin, and she now knows how to take good care of them so that they heal within the expected time.
What causes infections?
“A piercing is an open wound after all. The most common organisms identified as causes of piercing infection are normal skin flora, such as staphylococcus species,” explains Pretoria-based dermatologist Nomzamo Mkhize.
Also highlighting the differences between an allergic reaction and an infection, Mkhize states that allergic reactions are commonly associated with itchiness at the site of contact with the allergen, whereas infections are painful, cause severe swelling, drain pus, and can cause the individual to have a fever and generally feel unwell.
Mkhize further mentions that there are body areas people should think twice about before piercing, such as genital and chest wall piercings because they can increase the risk of infection.
“A genital piercing can compromise the integrity of barrier contraceptives and increase the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Chest wall piercings have an increased risk of hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation, especially in individuals with a personal or family history of keloids,” she explains.
She also advises on ways that can prevent piercing infections from occurring, such as proper sterilisation of the equipment used and cleaning the area that is going to be pierced with an antiseptic solution first.
“Aftercare is also essential; clean the area twice per day using water and antiseptic solution; avoid touching the area aside from cleaning; avoid swimming (in pools, rivers, etc.), which increases the risk of infection.”
Dermatologist Nomzamo Mkhize
For an already existing piercing infection, Mkhize recommends the following treatment methods:
- Removing the piercing jewellery;
- Cleaning it with an antiseptic solution three times per day; and
- A warm compress
“Consulting a general practitioner (GP) is also recommended for topical antibiotics (mild infection), incision and drainage (if there’s an abscess), or oral antibiotics (severe infection).”
“A delay in untreated piercing infections can lead to increased severity of local skin and soft tissue infections such as cellulitis, abscess formation, nasal septal perforation, toxic shock syndrome, and Fournier gangrene,” states Mkhize.
She adds that the possible complications of piercing infections vary depending on the site of the piercing. However, the complications are rather minor when diagnosed early and treated with appropriate ways or antibiotics.
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