Is My Piercing Infected or Just Irritated?

Irritation normally remains close to the piercing and may follow a clear trigger such as sleeping on it, catching the jewellery, over-cleaning or changing the earring too early. It may feel tender, itchy or slightly swollen, but should begin to settle when the trigger is removed.

A possible infection is more likely to become progressively hotter, more painful or more swollen. Spreading redness, thick pus, blood, an unpleasant smell or feeling generally unwell require prompt professional attention.

A possibly infected piercing may look increasingly swollen, very red or darker than the surrounding skin. It may feel hot and painful and produce blood or thick white, yellow or green pus.

The appearance alone cannot confirm an infection. Contact a healthcare professional if symptoms are spreading, worsening or accompanied by fever, chills or feeling unwell.

Yes. A healing or irritated piercing can release a small amount of pale or whitish-yellow fluid that dries into a light crust. This is not automatically a sign of infection.

Thick discharge, a strong smell, blood or white, yellow or green pus accompanied by increasing pain, heat or swelling should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Leave the jewellery in unless a healthcare professional tells you to remove it. Removing it without professional guidance may allow the opening to begin closing while the infection is still present.

Do not force, replace or rotate jewellery through very swollen tissue. Seek medical advice and let your piercer know what is happening.

There is no exact timetable because the cause, piercing placement and stage of healing all matter. Mild irritation should begin to improve once pressure, snagging, excessive movement or harsh cleaning has stopped.

Ask your piercer to examine it if the irritation does not begin settling. Seek medical advice if the symptoms intensify, spread or include pus, increasing heat or feeling generally unwell.

Yes. A post that is too short may create pressure, while one that is too long may move and catch. An uncomfortable backing, unsuitable shape, worn surface or sensitivity to a jewellery component may also irritate the piercing.

Ask a professional piercer to assess the gauge, length, backing and placement. Galleria Armadoro ball-screw piercing studs can be inspected, professionally sterilised and fitted when your piercer confirms that the selected design is appropriate.

Do not change a sore, swollen or healing piercing by yourself. If the current jewellery appears too tight, is embedding, catches repeatedly or is causing pressure, contact your piercer promptly.

A professional piercer can decide whether a change or downsize is appropriate and perform it without unnecessarily disturbing the piercing.

Seek medical advice promptly when the piercing becomes increasingly hot, painful or swollen, the redness or darker colour spreads, blood or pus appears, or you feel hot, cold, shivery or generally unwell.

A piercer can assess jewellery and placement, but a healthcare professional must diagnose an infection and decide whether medical treatment is needed.

Cartilage piercings—including the tragus, helix, conch, rook and daith—need particular attention when symptoms are worsening. Seek prompt medical advice if the area becomes increasingly painful, hot, swollen, very red or dark, or begins producing blood or pus.

For placement-specific advice, read our infected tragus piercing guide .

When saline is recommended by your piercer, choose a packaged sterile wound wash containing 0.9% sodium chloride, ideally without added moisturisers, antibacterials or fragrances.

Avoid over-cleaning, twisting the jewellery or repeatedly rubbing the area. For a complete routine, read our piercing aftercare guide .