Earring pus/infection

Many people suffer from "redness, swelling, pus, and pain" around their piercing holes, either immediately after getting a piercing, for several months, or even suddenly with a piercing they've worn for years. Even if it starts as a mild inflammation, leaving it untreated can lead to bacterial infection spreading deep, prolonged healing, or even keloids (raised scars).

Many cases involve people thinking, "It's just a little swollen, it'll be fine," or "It should heal if I disinfect it," only to find the pus increasing and the pain worsening.
If you experience pus discharge, throbbing pain, or a feeling of heat, it's recommended to see a dermatologist as soon as possible.

• Accurate identification of the cause and severity through consultation, visual examination, and bacterial culture tests
• Treatment tailored to symptoms, including oral or topical antibiotics, and disinfection
• Troubleshooting support for self-piercing complications also available
• Walk-ins welcome, same-day appointments OK | Open daily 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

👉 Same-day appointments without reservation are also possible. Please feel free to consult us first.

What is Pus/Infection from Piercings?

Pus or infection from a piercing occurs when bacteria enter the piercing hole and cause an infection. A piercing hole is a "wound" that penetrates the skin, and the risk of bacterial infection continues until it is completely stable (healed). The目安 for healing is 1-2 months for an earlobe and 3-6 months for ear cartilage.

Mild inflammation is a common reaction immediately after a piercing or when changing jewelry. If there is redness, slight swelling, and a small amount of clear to yellowish discharge, it will improve within a few days with proper care.

Suppuration (bacterial infection) occurs when bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus) multiply in the hole, causing symptoms like white to greenish pus, severe pain, heat, redness, and swelling. If left untreated, the infection can spread to deep cartilage and subcutaneous tissue, leading to serious infections such as chondritis or cellulitis.

⚠️ Seek medical attention early if you experience any of the following:

• Continuous discharge of white, yellow, or green pus
• Throbbing pain or heat around the piercing
• Swelling that is spreading or has become a hard lump
• Systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, or swollen lymph nodes
• Severe pain or bleeding when moving the piercing
• No improvement or worsening after 1 week of care
• Severe swelling or pain in ear cartilage or body piercing areas
• Trouble after self-piercing

Distinguishing between Mild Inflammation and Suppuration (Bacterial Infection)

Item	Mild Inflammation	Suppuration (Bacterial Infection)
Color of discharge	Clear to pale yellow (lymphatic fluid)	White, yellow, or green pus
Amount of discharge	Small amount, forms a scab	Continuous discharge, reappears even after wiping
Pain	Slightly painful to the touch	Throbbing, pulsating pain
Swelling	Only around the piercing, mild	Spreads widely, hard lump
Redness	Pink to light red	Bright red to purplish red
Heat sensation	Almost none	Clearly hot to the touch
Time to improvement	2-5 days with care	Requires medical examination and treatment
Action	Continue cleaning and disinfection at home	See a dermatologist early

Severity Classification of Suppuration

The treatment approach for suppuration varies depending on its severity. If addressed when mild, it can heal quickly, but severe cases may require intravenous antibiotics or incision and drainage.

Classification	Condition	Main Symptoms	Treatment Guidelines
Mild	Shallow infection on the surface of the hole	Small amount of pus, mild swelling, pain when pressed	Topical antibiotics, cleaning guidance for 1-2 weeks
Moderate	Infection of surrounding piercing tissue	Pus, severe swelling, heat, pulsating pain	Oral antibiotics + topical treatment for 2-3 weeks
Severe	Chondritis, cellulitis, abscess formation	Widespread swelling, fever, swollen lymph nodes, accumulation of pus	Oral medication + incision and drainage, rarely intravenous treatment

Situations and Causes Prone to Piercing Suppuration

Cause	Common Situations
Infection immediately after piercing	Self-piercing, unhygienic procedures. Occurs when bacteria enter the hole.
Metal allergy	Inexpensive piercings containing nickel. Chronic contact dermatitis can lead to secondary bacterial infection.
Insufficient care/dirt	Accumulation of shampoo, hair products, sweat, sebum. Habit of touching with hands, leaving covered by hair.
Premature replacement of first piercing	Replacing the piercing before the hole is healed, causing re-injury and recurrent infection.
Trauma/snagging	Pressure while sleeping, snagging on clothes or hair, bumping during sports.
Ear cartilage/body piercings	Cartilage areas have poor blood flow and heal slowly. Navel, nipple, lip piercings are in harsh bacterial environments.
Pools, hot springs, seawater	Infection from bacteria, chlorine, or germs when entering water before healing is complete.
Poor health/weakened immunity	More susceptible to infection when immunity is low due to fatigue, lack of sleep, diabetes, etc.

First Aid for Piercing Infection

In cases of mild inflammation, home care may lead to improvement. The initial 48 hours of response are key to preventing worsening.

Procedure	Content/Precautions
Keep hands clean	Always wash hands thoroughly with soap before touching the piercing. Dirty hands are the biggest source of infection.
Wash gently with foam	Lather a mild soap well and wash around the piercing 1-2 times a day. Do not scrub; gently cover with foam.
Rinse with lukewarm water	Rinse off all soap residue. Use lukewarm water gently. Hot water is a no-no.
Dry cleanly	Pat dry with a clean cotton pad or tissue. Do not rub. Low heat from a hairdryer is also acceptable.
Do not remove the piercing	If infected, removing the piercing on your own judgment can close the pus outlet, causing it to accumulate internally and worsen. Seek a doctor's advice.
Avoid strong disinfectants	Alcohol and hydrogen peroxide are irritating and can damage healthy tissue, delaying healing.

Before visiting the clinic, strictly avoid forcibly removing the piercing, continuously applying Makiron, or squeezing out pus. These actions can worsen the infection or spread pus into the subcutaneous tissue, leading to severe complications. "Fiddling with it because it bothers you" is the most undesirable action.

Self-Care at Home (for mild cases)

If the inflammation is mild, the following self-care may lead to improvement. However, if it does not improve or worsens after 3 days, always seek medical attention.

• Wash 1-2 times a day: Gently wash with lathered soap during a shower. Over-washing is counterproductive.
• Do not move the piercing: Do not forcibly twist or remove a piercing that has not fully healed.
• Avoid pressure when sleeping: If you sleep on your side, sleep on the opposite side or use a donut-shaped pillow.
• Do not cover with hair: Tie up long hair or keep it away from the ears.
• Prevent sweat and hair products from adhering: Cleanse the area around the piercing thoroughly after exercise or using hair products.
• Avoid pools and hot springs: Avoid entering water until completely healed.
• Do not use over-the-counter ointments on your own judgment: Incorrect use of steroid or strong ointments can worsen the condition.

To Prevent Recurrent Suppuration

A piercing site that has been infected once is prone to recurrence. Addressing the root cause is key to preventing recurrence.

• Choose medical-grade piercings: Use pure titanium, pure gold (18K or higher), surgical stainless steel, or medical-grade plastic.
• Keep piercings clean: Regularly disinfect the piercing itself. Avoid long-term use of inexpensive piercings.
• Undergo metal allergy testing: If the causative metal can be identified, appropriate materials can be chosen.
• Be cautious if you have a keloid tendency: If you have had a keloid once, avoid piercing the same area.
• Do not remove the first piercing until healed: 1-2 months for earlobes, 3-6 months or more for cartilage.
• Move the piercing periodically: After healing, move it back and forth once a week to prevent adhesion.
• Maintain good health: Maintain immunity through sleep, nutrition, and stress management.

Examinations and Treatments at Our Clinic

Examination/Procedure	Purpose/Content
Consultation, visual examination, palpation	Confirm onset, care status, piercing material used, pain, swelling, and discharge to assess severity.
Bacterial culture test	Collect bacteria from pus to identify the causative organism and effective antibiotics (if necessary).
Metal allergy patch test	Diagnose if recurrent suppuration is due to metal allergy (upon request).
Antibiotic prescription	Prescribe topical medication (e.g., Gentamicin, Aquacim) or oral medication (e.g., cephalosporins) for moderate to severe cases.
Disinfection/cleaning procedure	Remove pus and scabs, and clean the affected area.
Incision and drainage	If an abscess (collection of pus) has formed, incise and drain the pus under local anesthesia.
Piercing removal/replacement guidance	Advise on piercing removal or replacement with medical-grade materials according to symptoms and recovery stage.
Keloid management	Manage raised scars (keloids) with topical steroids or injections.

Flow of Consultation

1. WEB reservation, or walk-in
   If you have severe pain or fever, please contact us by phone. We will guide you through the consultation process.
2. Reception and filling out the medical questionnaire
   Please fill in when, which area, what symptoms, the material of the piercing you are using, and your past piercing trouble history.
3. Doctor's examination
   The doctor will assess the extent and severity of inflammation through visual examination and palpation. A bacterial culture test will be performed if necessary.
4. Treatment/Prescription
   Depending on the severity, treatments such as topical/oral antibiotics, disinfection, or incision and drainage will be performed.
5. Guidance for home care
   We will carefully explain cleaning methods, disinfection methods, whether to remove the piercing, and precautions in daily life.
6. Payment/Departure
   We will inform you of the estimated time for your next visit and advice for preventing recurrence.

Frequently Asked Questions

I got my piercing a week ago. There's some pus-like discharge, is it infected?

For the first 1-2 weeks immediately after getting a piercing, it's common to have a small amount of clear to pale yellow lymphatic fluid, which is a normal part of the healing process. If you have thick white, yellow, or green pus, severe pain, heat, or spreading swelling, it's highly likely to be an infection, and we recommend seeing a doctor.

Should I remove my piercing if it's infected?

Please avoid removing it on your own judgment. If you remove the piercing, the exit of the hole may close, causing pus to accumulate internally and worsen the condition. Whether or not to remove it depends on the symptoms, so please consult a doctor.

Can I disinfect with Makiron or hydrogen peroxide?

Alcohol-based disinfectants and hydrogen peroxide (oxidol) are irritating and can damage healthy tissue, delaying healing. Gentle cleaning with soap and lukewarm water is generally recommended. If disinfection is necessary, please use a disinfectant prescribed by a doctor.

My piercing is infected, but I want to keep the hole. Is that possible?

In mild to moderate cases, it is often possible to save the piercing hole with antibiotic treatment. However, if the infection becomes severe and requires incision and drainage, or if it repeatedly gets infected, we may consider closing the hole and re-piercing it later. Please consult us during your examination.

I self-pierced and it's infected. Can you treat it?

Of course. We can address complications from self-piercing at our clinic. After treatment, for those who wish to keep their piercing hole, we will provide advice on future care methods.

I don't know if I have a metal allergy. How can I tell?

If you experience recurrent infections in the same area, worsening symptoms each time you change piercings, or severe itching, you may have a metal allergy. We can perform patch tests at our clinic, so please consult us.

I have a keloid (raised scar). Can it be treated?

If a keloid is detected early, it may be possible to improve it with topical steroids or local injections. Since it can grow if left untreated, please see a doctor as soon as you notice it. For severe cases, we can refer you to a specialized plastic surgery hospital.

Which department should I visit?

Dermatology is appropriate. Our clinic handles all types of piercing problems as part of our dermatology services. If you have an "infected piercing," "pain," or "don't know which department to go to," please visit us first.

Clinic Hours/Access

Item	Content
Clinic Name	Jujo Station HARU Internal Medicine & Dermatology Clinic
Consultation Hours	Monday to Sunday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Closed Days	None (Irregular holidays)
Location	J&MALL 1F, 2-27-1 Kamijujo, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-0034
For those coming by train/walk	Approx. 1-2 minutes walk from Jujo Station (JR Saikyo Line), J&MALL 1st floor
For those coming by bus	Directly in front of the "Jujo Station" bus stop (Kokusai Kogyo Bus)
For those coming by car	Please use nearby coin parking lots
Contact Us	TEL: 03-6698-2509 / Official LINE: https://lin.ee/AL0fp3z