What to Do If Your Piercing Gets Infected: Ear, Eyebrow, Nipple and Belly Button

If you got a piercing and you think you may have an infection, here's everything you need to know about caring for your infection.

To begin, an infection will usually appear in the form of a yellowish thick liquidy substance (pus). Do not confuse an infection with dried "crust". A yellowish/brownish crust is the result of your body trying to heal itself. Dead blood cells and plasma surface, and then dry when exposed to air, causing crust. The crust is totally normal and just needs to be cleaned. However, if you are noticing oozing liquid (pus), you probably have an infection.

There are several different reasons for infection. Your infection may be a result of the person who preformed the piercing not having properly sanitized equipment - but don't be alarmed, this is very uncommon. Any reputable shop, by law, uses safe materials. So do not jump the gun and assume it's your piercers fault.

An infection can also result from not caring for your piercing properly. Your jewelry and piercing needs to be cleaned usually two to three times a day and rotated. If you do not cleanse it, you will probably end up with an infection.

But finally, may times an infection is really nobodies fault. Everyone's body heals differently in different places. An infection can be the result of your body trying to force the foreign material out of it. I have had many piercings. Most healed with no problem at all and some got infected. Don't panic. Here's how to handle the infection:

NEVER remove the piercing. If you go to the doctor they will more-than-likely tell you to remove it so you body can heal. But any professional body piercer will tell you the exact opposite. Removing your jewelry can result in serious damage. What happens when the jewelry is removed is that both sides of the piercing being to heal (scab over). This means that your infection is now trapped inside your body with now way of surfacing! By keeping the jewelry in, you're allowing the infection to force its way out.

Do not bathe in the bath tub, instead opt for a shower. If you bathe in a pool of water, you are chancing bacteria getting into your infection and making it worse.