How to Clean an Infected Ear Piercing with Sea Salt at Home

Many people decide to get pierced because they think it looks cool, but sometimes they don’t realize that piercings can be very dangerous. An infected ear piercing can cause you to lose your hearing or even develop an infection that can be life-threatening. This article will teach you how to clean an infected ear piercing with sea salt at home.

The infections in an ear piercing are not as common as in other parts of the body; however, they can be quite painful and uncomfortable. Ear piercing seems trendy among young adults and teens. Still, sometimes it can get infected because of the unclean environment or an improper aftercare procedure.

If you want to know how to clean an infected ear piercing with sea salt at home, you must follow these instructions carefully. Also, make sure that you have had your ear piercing done by a licensed piercer. Your local pharmacy sells antibiotic ointments if required.

Step 1: Prepare the Supplies

First, you will need a small mixing bowl and a 1⁄4 cup of sea salt. You can use any salt, but make sure it is coarse enough that it will not be dissolved in water before you are finished. If your piercing is infected, grab some rubbing alcohol and cotton balls for cleaning.

Before making your earrings cleaner, gather everything up and put it within easy reach. It’s hard to have great results if you can’t get what you need when it is the time! Next, please wash your hands well to free them from germs that could make things worse later on. Now you are ready to mix your first batch of homemade earring cleaner.

Step 2: Mix the Solution

Mix 1 tablespoon of sea salt and three tablespoons of boiled and cooled water. Add a pinch of tea tree oil or lavender essential oil, which have antiseptic properties. Let it sit for 10 minutes before using.

Specifically, tea tree oil is known for its pain-relieving effects and antibacterial. Unless you do not, however, are either already, you can substitute hot water. To help balance the pH levels, add a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar (1 teaspoon each). The mixture should be slightly acidic, not basic (alkaline).

Step 3: Dip a Q-Tip in the Solution

Once you’ve prepared your saline solution, you’re ready to start cleaning. You can either dip a Q-Tip directly into your solution or use one that has been moistened. Ensure it is not wet enough to drip and that you have not added any more liquid (other than what is on your q-tip).

Gently dab in circular motions around your earlobe and front of your ear hole. Continue using a new piece of clean cotton until there are no more signs of infection, redness, or other problems. Your piercing should heal nicely within three days if done correctly! It should be cleaned once a day for 3–5 days. After that, continue cleaning twice a week until your piercing is fully healed. This will help keep it from getting infected again.

Step 4: Cleanse the Pierced Area Gently

Next, you’ll need to cleanse your skin carefully. Pour equal parts sea salt and water into a bowl large enough for you to immerse your ear in (either plastic or ceramic). Use a washcloth and gently apply pressure against your piercing area for about 20 seconds.

Next, please remove it from the bowl and allow it to air dry for several minutes. Note: Do not rub too hard on or around your piercing because that can cause additional irritation and force bacteria deeper into the wound—something we want to avoid.

This step is meant to loosen up any dirt present within your pierced hole. Step 4 should be repeated if there are no more visible signs of dirt rather than debris coming through your pierced hole. Once finished, pat down all areas with a clean towel and continue onto Step 5 below.

Step 5: Dry and Treat it Right Away

While you don’t want to open up that piercing any more than you need to, it’s also important not to let your ear dry out. This can lead to infection, so be sure and cover it with a clean bandage or compress. If there is a lot of excess fluid draining from your ear, don’t let it dry in your clothing or on anything else—that can also encourage infections.

Instead, soak up excess fluid (with medical gauze) or have someone apply pressure to direct it back into your ear canal. When you do all of these things right away—soaking and cleaning and covering it—you greatly reduce your risk of infection.

Soak up excess fluid (with medical gauze) or have someone apply pressure to direct it back into your ear canal. When you do all of these things right away—soaking and cleaning and covering it—you greatly reduce your risk of infection. And if your piercing becomes infected, don’t try to take care of it yourself; see a doctor. Left untreated, an infected ear piercing can get much worse quickly.

If you have an infected ear piercing and are looking for how to clean a pierced ear, you may be tempted to rush to the nearest store and buy some antiseptic solution.

Conclusion

If you recently got your ear pierced, the chances are good that you have had a bit of a reaction to the earring. This is not uncommon.

Unfortunately, many people choose to ignore the problem, and the infection spreads. Or they try to remove the earring, and the hole closes from the trauma. Or they go to the doctor and get antibiotics. These approaches can take time and money, and the problem may not be completely fixed.