Hi there! My daughter is 4 years old. For her 4th birthday she had been asking to have her ears pieced. So as part of her b-day present we decided to get her ears pierced. Everything went great, except for those initial tears, (to be expected). She loved them!! She was very happy to show them to everyone she saw. I did my part in cleaning and turning the earring each day once to twice a day. This was back in May.
Summer time came and we went on vacations, we were in the pool, outside more, sweating, etc...I did my best to keep up with the cleaning. Sometime in June I realized it had been a few days since we had cleaned or turned the earrings. We were at the pool and I took a look and I was very surprised at what I saw. A big, red, pussy like thing that had sort of grown on the back of her ear and the back of the earring was stuck to this thing. Thankfully one of our cousins is a nurse and was at the pool with us and said it was infected. She suggested in taking the earring out, cleaning it, cleaning the ear resting both the earring and the ear for a day and put the earring back in. We did that and with continued cleanings it disappeared. Then it appeared in the other ear. I did the same thing. Except it has never really gone completely away. I go back and forth with using peroxide and alcohol. She doesn't like the alcohol, but that seems to do the best in drying up the infection and cleaning it. I was also told the peroxide is not good to use b/c it kills the tissue.
Today we went to the dr. It's been 3 months and there is still a small pin head size "pimple" that is behind her ear behind the back of the earring. When I clean this ear sometimes I see puss, and sometimes I see blood. When I take the earring out to clean it and clean the ear better I find that in putting the earring back in it wants to go if a different direction. And as the dr pointed out this morning as if there is another track in her ear. This "track" pushes right through the back of this "pimple" area. Of course when I try to push through she screams, it starts to bleed, I panic and pull the earring out. It's as if there is another "hole" for me to push the earring through. I'm afraid that she could have two holes in the back of her ear??
The dr wasn't sure what to make of it. He thought since she does have sensitive skin that it could be an allergic reaction to the stainless steel earring, and/or it could be eczema which she has in various places on her body. His suggestions were to go with gold earrings, and use the eczema ointment that I have. He also said it could take months for the hole to become permanent? Also the earrings were put in by her dr at the dr's office, not one of those jewelry or hair boutiques in the mall. He seemed perplexed, not worried, but not sure either.
My concern is it just doesn't look normal. Help? What do you all think? Any experience, any suggestions on what to try or do?
Thanks,
A. B
Thank you to everyone who offered their suggestions and opinions on my daughters earring situation. I wish I could have attached a picture to really show and explain what we were dealing with. It seemed that everyone either wanted me to switch earrings to a different metal or take the earring out and let the hole close and ear heal. I also took her to see our pediatrician and he suggested that we use our eczema ointment and switch to gold. I decided before doing anything drastic I would switch the earrings. I had gotten a small pair of 14kt gold earrings from my mom for her for her birthday. Within just a few days of switching the metal, and putting the eczema ointment on the "infection" it has decreased in size, no more puss, no more blood, no more weirdness going on. She has sensitive skin and I should have tried this a long time ago, I was just worried about the hole closing. But it also sounds like the hole will close up even up to 6 months after her initial piercing. We believe the initial earring might have irritated her ear and that it was a bit bigger than your normal size earring is so that it would make the initial hole in her ear.
In my defense, and for those who write in to other people's questions, sometimes our explanation are not always perfect, we don't always give all the details to the situation, nor does it really give great detail to the problem sometimes. I found that several people like to post their opinions, but their opinions were not very nice or helpful. Let's go by the old adage, by saying "if you don't have anything nice (or helpful) to say, don't say anything at all." "Don't judge a book by it's cover" without knowing the details.
My decisions on what we do as a family and what we decide to do is our decisions, not yours. If you don't like others having earrings then keep it to yourself. In some cultures, ear piercing is done at a very early age and is the norm. Beauty is not dealt by your looks or if you do or don't have earrings. Inner beauty is what really counts! If you really felt as though my problem was so offensive then you really have some major issues. I feel very strongly about breastfeeding and I don't go around criticizing others who choose to give formula vs breast milk. I don't bombard people who may choose to feed their babies solid foods before 6 months of age, as clearly stated by the Academy of Pediatrics. And if I went up to a mom or dad who was feeding their child soda and junk food and insulted them that they were feeding into the obesity problem we have in the US then I would be looking for a fight.
Just say positive helpful things and don't make negative comments on someone's innocent question. We're all moms, dads, and even grandparents on here and we're not all perfect!
I am happy and thankful my daughters ears look much better and I'm happy that this situation worked out for both her and I with no more drama.
Thanks
A. B
When I had my hair salon and I did ear piercing,I found out that some do have such sensitive to any type metal in there ears,some times they do grow out of it and I had others that never had any problems till many years after.
I my self use to could ware any thing but now I can only ware gold.
S.
This seems to happen quite regularly. My daughter, now 33 got this when she was 5. We took the earrings out, waited 2 yrs. At 7, she was fine. Granddaughter had it too. She also took them out, and waited a yr, and they did fine. I wonder if some kids are more sensitive when they are younger.
My daughters can only wear the real gold earrings. I can wear whatever. They get highly infected otherwise though. Good luck!
Epsom Salt compress!
Epsom Salt is so cheap, effective, versatile, and easy, I don't know why we don't hear more about it's use! It's a good soak for sore, aching muscles (or the whole body, for that matter), infected areas (or areas that are susceptible to GETTING ifected such as a surgery site or irritated place), etc. Add 1 Tablespoon to 1 cup hot water, and wet a washcloth with it and hold it on her ear 4-5 minutes 4-5 times a day. You can even re-heat and re-use the same water and cloth. Just be careful not to burn yourself or her.
I'll bet it'll clear it right up!
I read your other posts, & I hope it's not MRSA; and different people are allergic to different metals. Some people can ONLY wear cheap earrings, and others need platinum, gold, sterling silver, titanium, or surgical steel.
I know that it sounds crazy, but I would call a tattoo and piercing place and ask them. I had my ears pierced twice when I was young, only to have them get infected and heal back over. Finally, in my 30's I went to a piecing place and have had much more success. They used titanium earrings and gave much different advice on cleaning and turning than what I have ever heard at a doctor or earring place in the mall. It also took almost a full year before my ears stopped reacting and I was able to take the piercing earrings out. I have now found that I can not wear stainless steal earring at all without my ears starting to itch, puss and bleed. Surprisingly, sterling silver is OK but I just have to be really careful. The pool is also a bad place when my ears are reacting and I remember the tattoo place saying to stay away when you first get them pierced...which is really hard during the summer. good luck!
I like KC R's answer -- "earrings are stupid." Is she like 12 or something? lol Also, I thought we were supposed to be helpful here. (Started out my morning with a good laugh anyway!)
Sounds like an allergy to metal and it isn't healing. It just keeps getting irritated by the metal. I have a step-daughter who can't wear earrings because they constantly get infected. Sounds just like that. Either try gold or let them heal and try again in a few years. (My SD is allergic to everything -- gold included.)
hi, i would let them heal up and wait a few years until she is older and able to take care of them herself. she may be messing with them all the time when you aren't aware. good luck and god bless, R.
I used baby castile soap on my earrings. It is a liquid soap that you can squirt through the hole. That might help??
I am only able to wear real earrings (gold) and even those bother me sometimes. I would say that if lasts much longer I would probably take the earrings out and let the ears heal.
I remember getting my ears done around that age-I had alot of the same issues. Of course, that was back in the days, before we all had to worry about MRSA lurking everywhere. I agree with what your doctor about gold earrings, but I would also say that based on my own experience, my ears were always pusy, bloody, cheesy-smelling-clear into my teens, if it continues being a problem, you may just want to let them close on their own until she's a bit older-the human body can and will reject any type of piercing, if it doesn't want it there. I once had a nose-ring close up after over a year of continual use, and only out for 7 hours, and I had, (embarassing but I was a teenager, and a stupid one at that)a nipple ring done 2 times, and both times my body pushed the thing clear out of itself.
I cant wear anything but gold in my ears. If I use stainless steel, it's only a matter of an hour before I feel it burning. I'd get her some gold, use neosporine on her current infection, or take the earrings out and let her get them repierced later when she feels ready to try it again.
I doubt she has two holes in the back of her ear, it's more likely due to the infection and the cavity is probably a lot bigger since everything is inflamed and that's why you feel like you cant get the earring thru....the tunnel is large but the exit is small.
I didn't read through all the responses, so I have no clue if I'm repeating. Use sea salt on the infected part. I had my belly button pierced twice and my cartilage done. Both got infected. I used sea salt and the infection was gone in a matter of hours. I mixed it with a tad bit of water to get it to stick to the infected site. You might have to take her earring out to get it to stay on the back of her ear. I used a band aid on both areas to keep the salt on the infected area. I think I left it on for a few hours. Make sure you clean her earrings really well with alcohol before you put them back in her ear. You might want to consider getting her new earrings as well.
I know you already got a lot of good info but b/c I went thru the same thing as a kid, I have to chime in. I got mine peirced twice, once at age 3 and then again at 10. Both times mom did the cleaning and turning and both times I had raging infections. When I went to the derm as a teen for acne, he siad that a common allergy is to nickel which is present in trace amounts in most jewelry metals even expensive gold and silver peices. (They do make nickel free jewelry) I would get rashes on my fingers from wearing rings too. As an adult I haven't had any probs, and I had my nose peirced 5 years ago, I went to a reputable tattoo parlor and got an implant grade titanium (same material they would make a pin or such to implant in a knee or shoulder) stud. I would suggest getting rid of the earings, explaining that she can try again when she is older. I was very happy with clip on earrings as a substitute when I was a kid.
I would put real gold hoops in her ears. (tiny ones) That is what I had from practically birth, and are pretty much all I can tolerate now. Everything else, including surgical steel and especially earrings with backs on them irritate my ears.
alcohol damages the tissue too never use it on cuts either. use something like neospourin or something. next switch her earrings to 24 karat gold. they are the ones with the least amount of skin irratents for some reason. i had my ears pierced many times when i was little but i wants able to not get infections so i just gave up. she may be one of the girls who just cant do earrings :(
Hello, I didn't read any of your other responses,, I am allergic to anything but real gold. So if I wear anything fake I break out in either a rash or hives! So if anyone buys me anything for a gift I take it and smile and say thanks. If its not real I can't wear it and I just put it away and give it to someone that can wear it. Good Luck and that probably what your daughters problem is.
I would go with the gold clean before use soaked in earring jewerly cleaner then clean her ears really well with the earrings also use the earring jewerly cleaner.Make sue your hands are washed with soap and water use cotton balls and qtips to clean her ears.When entering the ear hole be careful you might be scratching the lobes wall causing it to get inflamed infected and hurt.After earring are in clean again.If it helps use a small purse size spray bottle fill it with peroxide or alchol and spray her earrings front and back this works for me and my 2 darlings.
There is sensitive skin nickel free earrings/jewerly found at the mall in those jewerly stores.I'll be getting these for my girls.Also Walmart and Kmart have a cute selection of Gold jewerly in thier cases.Good Luck infections are horrible on the ears.
It sounds like the infection caused a minor abscess (puss filled pocket) on the back of her ear. Pushing the earring post through it burst the abscess. Keep cleaning it like you have been doing. Try the gold earrings (if you can afford them). It should clear up eventually.
My daughter went through the same thing in the summer of 2009. We thought it was that I had not cleaned it enough, that she needed gold earrings, and considered all the things that you have considered. It turned out that she has MRSA and that was causing it. MRSA is a bacteria that lives on the skin and creates hard, puss-filled spots of infection when there is a cut in the skin. The way to find out if this is the case with your daughter is to take her into the doctor when she has a puss-filled spot then have the doctor drain it and test it in the lab. If it comes back as MRSA, they will need to prescribe a certain antibiotic which is especially made to fight it off. That should clear it up, but unfortunately if she has MRSA she could continue to have situations like that from time to time - and not just with her ears but in any cut on her body. One of the ways to help prevent a MRSA spot from developing is to wash any cuts with a special cleaser called Hibiclens then putting a bandaid on right away. There is a prescription ointment you can also get to put on any suspected MRSA spots. Talk to your doctor about exploring this possibility. I should mention that once one person in your house gets it it is likely to eventually spread to everyone. That has not happened in our family yet (there are 7 of us and only 2 have it) but it helps to keep an eye out on the others and treat their cuts with care too. Wish it was a better diagnosis, but if that's what it is you can just get her treated and hope for few reoccurances. Hang in there!
When my sis was 10 she got her ears pierced. She took care of her ears for a while and then forgot about it. The skin closed behind her ear and the backing of the post was inside. Needless to say totally gross and very painful to get that sucker out. She left the earrings out and 2 weeks later all holes closed up. Holes can close up wihin the first year. I would try the gold. Surgical stainless steel is usually good enough but if she has sensitive skin, gold has always been the answer. 14K and up.
Earrings are stupid. Wait until she is older to make that decision. My daughter has none and I get so many complements about her beauty. Earrings take away from the beauty and innocence of a child. I myself don't wear any.
I am by no means a doctor, but usually blood and puss involves an infection. If it has been that long, and nothing is being fixed completely gone, I would contemplate taking them out. Could be a bad reaction to a metal, its highly common. Mine only gets slightly irritated to non gold metals though.
Could be a bad infection. Could be an allergic reaction. Find a different doctor. Maybe a dermatologist.
I am allergic to some metals. I am allergic to stainless steel and surgical steel. I had to buy gold hoops that were in a continuous circle in order for my ears to heal after piercing.
Even now - over 30 years after piercing- my ears will start bleeding within a few hours of wearing some types of metal. Gold & Platinum are OK. I can tolerate silver for the day, but not overnight.
Sounds like she is having a reaction to the earrings. I have the same problem if I don't use 14K gold earring for any length of time. The ear lobe gets hot and infected overnight. I would take her earring out at night and put them back in the next morning, this will give the ears time to air out and you can attack the infection with ointment or whatever you perfer. And yes it does take a while for the hole to become permanent.. If I remember right it was about 6 months before mine healed correctly and stayed open. If you can not get her ears to heal I would suggest seeing your DR again and maybe antibotics to clear whatever is going on! Good Luck to you!
My daughters have asked for earrings since they could talk. The rule here is at 8th grade graduation. That way they are old enough to keep them clean themselves. I have one with pierced ears the other has to wait two more years.
I would either take them out altogether and let the hole heal. Let her get them repierced when she is older. Also put only sterling silver or gold earrings in her ears. I can't wear anything from Claire's or anywhere like that. I have to wash my earrings every time I wear them before I put them in and I wash my ears with alcohol before and after I put any earrings in my ears. .
Hi A.,
I had my ear pierced up high and did the usual turning and cleaning with the stainless steel earring and it got infected even though I did what they said to do. I took it out and let it heal completely and then had it done again. After I had it done the second time, I took out the stainless steel post and put in a sterling silver earring instead. No issues.
Good luck!
Cyndi
I have a girlfriend that cannot wear earrings at all...she reacts to every type of metal out there...she has tried them all.
With the concerns about MRSA which can be very dangerous...I would worry about any open not healing wound on my child.
My advice...and you are probably not going to like it...take the earrings out and let the holes close up and her ears heal completely ...like 6 months to a year. Make sure all hint of infection is gone...no bumps or anything out of the ordinary with her ears. Then get them re-pierced later.
You can use an antibacterial ointment/cream like neosporin, they even have one with a pain relief build in to numb up the skin a bit so the cut/sore don't hurt as much.
Good luck...we all want our girls to look pretty and girlie...sorry this has been such a rocky road for you.
