WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

Firstly, if you have any concerns or questions about your piercings please either come in for a consult (no booking needed) or send us a message via Facebook or email.

WHEN IS IT IRRITATION NOT INFECTION?

Rarely, serious complications can arise with a healing piercing that requires a Doctors intervention. 

Irritation in piercings is much more common than actual infection and is often mistaken for an infection.

Irritation can result in symptoms of redness around the piercing, swelling, and/or small bumps forming next to the piercing.

Irritation is a result from physical trauma like snagging or sleeping on your piercing, chemicals like shampoo getting into the piercing, playing with the jewellery, over-cleaning and/or using harsh aftercare products.

The best way to treat irritation is to remove the source of the irritation and let your body do its thing! Its your immune system after all that heals a piercing! It may take up to 3 weeks minimum for the piercing to balance out from the irritation.

WHAT CAUSES INFECTION?

Infections are caused when germs get into a piercing, usually from touching it with unclean hands or swimming while the piercing is healing.

Actual infections need to be evaluated and treated by a Doctor.

The following are symptoms of an infection;

- Red streaks radiating from the piercing.

- Area is hot to the touch.

- Discharge is a funny colour like green/ blue/ purple and/or smells bad (normal discharge will be an off white to honey colour.

- Extreme swelling.

WHAT IF MY EAR SWALLOWS THE JEWELLERY?

Extreme swelling, trauma or moisture retention can cause jewellery to be completely pulled under the skin. Make sure you seek help/ remedy this immediately. Often if caught on to quickly we can look to installing a longer bar/ install a longer post to allow for swelling to go down. If the skin actually heals over completely then it will need to be surgically removed by a doctor.