Piercing infection or irritation? How to tell the difference

What is irritation?

Jewellery movement, pressure, an unsuitable product or a long bar can cause redness and tenderness around the piercing. This is usually irritation, not infection, and goes away when the cause is removed.

Signs of infection

• Redness spreading out from around the piercing
• Noticeable warmth and hard swelling in the tissue
• Throbbing, increasing pain
• Smelly, dark yellow or green, thick discharge
• Fever, chills or general weakness

Signs of irritation

• Mild redness and tenderness
• Light-coloured, yellowish dried crust (lymph)
• Brief discomfort when the jewellery is touched
• Increased tenderness after pressure from sleep or clothing

What should you do?

If you suspect irritation, find the cause: pressure, a long bar, a product or fiddling. Continue simple saline aftercare and consult your piercer. If there are signs of infection, see a doctor.

Should the jewellery be removed?

With an infection, removing the jewellery can close the opening of the piercing and trap the infection inside. The APP also recommends consulting a doctor before removing the jewellery. Make the decision together with your doctor.

Telling irritation and infection apart

Redness and tenderness are common with a new piercing, but they don't always mean infection. Irritation usually comes from pressure, jewellery movement, dryness or a product reaction and subsides when the cause is removed. Infection comes with symptoms that increase over time.

• Irritation: mild redness, tenderness to touch, light-coloured or clear discharge, improvement when the cause is removed.
• Possible infection: spreading redness, increasing pain and warmth, dark yellow-green smelly pus, fever.

First steps at home

If symptoms are mild, first look for the cause of pressure: sleeping on your side, headphones, jewellery length, a new product. Continue gentle cleaning with saline and touch the area less. Don't use alcohol, hydrogen peroxide or antibacterial ointments.

Don't remove the jewellery. With an infection, removing the jewellery can cause the piercing to close and trap fluid inside, leading to a risk of abscess. The opinion of your piercer and doctor is needed for the decision.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor without delay if there is fever, spreading redness, severe swelling or increasing pain, pus and general weakness. The doctor will start antibiotic treatment if necessary. This content is not a substitute for medical advice.

What are the signs of irritation?

Irritation usually has a cause: pressure, jewellery movement, friction or an unsuitable product. Local redness, mild swelling and clear or whitish discharge may be seen around the piercing. If the cause is removed, symptoms subside within a few days. It is usually not accompanied by fever, spreading redness or severe pain.

Signs that suggest infection

With an infection, symptoms keep increasing: throbbing pain, warmth in the area, spreading redness, dark yellow-green foul-smelling discharge and sometimes fever. In this case, consult your piercer or doctor before removing the jewellery, because removing it can cause the piercing to close and trap the infection inside. The doctor may start antibiotics if needed.

A quick check to help you decide

Ask yourself: Are the symptoms decreasing or increasing over a few days? Does the discharge smell? Do you have a fever? Is the redness spreading away from the piercing? These answers indicate the likelihood of infection. If you are not sure, take a photo and show it to your piercer; if you have serious concerns, go straight to a doctor.

Common mistakes

• Thinking every redness is an infection
• “Disinfecting” with alcohol and peroxide
• Applying antibiotic ointment on your own

When should you get help?

Spreading redness, fever, smelly discharge or severe pain: see a doctor.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your piercer or doctor about your personal situation.

Official and reliable sources

• APP: Piercing aftercare brochure (PDF)
• Neometal: Piercing aftercare

FAQ

Are antibiotics needed?

A doctor diagnoses and treats infection; don't use antibiotics on your own.

Should I apply antibiotic ointment?

Don't apply it unless a doctor recommends it; ointments seal the piercing.

Is it contagious?

An infection is a local condition; pay attention to hygiene.

This content is for general information only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.