Go To an Urgent Care Clinic if you Experience Piercing Complications

Posted on: 26 July 2023

The vast majority of ear and body piercing appointments go well, but there are rare times when you can experience some unwanted side effects. This can particularly occur if you attempt to pierce your ear or a part of your body yourself rather than visit a licensed piercing studio.

Some mild tenderness at the piercing site for a short period of time is normal, but if you begin to notice other issues, it's appropriate to get medical attention. Generally, an issue with a piercing won't require an emergency room visit, but you can visit a local urgent care clinic.

Infection

The biggest health concern that you may experience after a piercing is an infection. This can occur because the needle used in the piercing wasn't properly disinfected. An early warning sign of an infection in your ear or elsewhere in your body is swelling in the area.

Keep an eye on the piercing site to see if it appears swollen. You might see swelling immediately around the piercing site. In the case of an infection, the swelling may cover a larger area. Often, you'll also experience some discomfort in this part of your body.

Redness and Heat

Further signs of infection around your ear or body piercing can include redness and heat. Often, when you look at the area, you'll be able to see that your skin has taken on a slightly reddish hue. This can be easier to identify if your skin is pale, but can still be evident in those with darker skin.

You might also gently place your fingers against the site and be surprised that this area feels hotter than elsewhere on your body. Don't be shy about asking a family member to assess your skin to see if this area feels hot.

Fever

Depending on the severity of the infection around the site of your ear or body piercing, it's possible that you could develop a fever. If you believe that you have a fever, use a thermometer to check your temperature. If your fever climbs to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, it's important to seek urgent care.

You should note that even if you don't have a fever, you can still have an infection around your piercing site that could benefit from medical intervention. Don't hesitate to visit an urgent care facility in your community upon noticing these piercing-related issues so that they can heal properly.

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