AboutBrian Skellie Expertise I can answer questions in regards to and not limited to: jewelry safety, specifically material, shape, proportion, and related issues; aseptic technique and sterilization as it applies to piercing safety; ethical issues of technique and bedside manner; the aftercare and recovery process for piercings.
Experience
Past/Present clients
Tens of thousands of one on one client experiences. http://www.piercing.org/ Body jewelry design and safety expert: Member ASTM committee F04(www.astm.org)
Member AAMI (www.aami.org)
Research advisor and educator for the APP for over a decade(www.safepiercing.org) teaching advanced studio setup, sterilization and equipment management, freehand piercing, aseptic/sterile technique and much more.
Distributor for SciCan StatIM sterilization and cleaning products. http://www.piercing.org/statim/
Expert: Brian Skellie Date: 6/21/2008 Subject: Cartilage Infection?
Question About two weeks ago I got a barbell inserted into the cartilage in my right ear. It's been doing just fine until about yesterday, when it got a little jostled when my coworker hit it on accident. Later that night I wore a hat for about an hour, which I could tell irritated it, so I took it off. It throbbed dully until I went to bed, with no swelling or redness. This morning I woke up and it was fine until I jostled it lightly in the shower. Since then it has been painful, warm, red, and obviously swollen, but with no discharge. It was pierced with a gun and I've been pretty good about cleaning it with the ear care solution. Is this an infection? What should I do if it is? If it isn't, is there any way that I can soothe it to keep it from getting worse? Help!
Answer Ear gun piercing and jewlery should not be used for cartilage. http://piercing.org/shop has examples of the safe titanium barbells that we use.
A thorough cleaning and an ice pack would be the gentlest way to calm an irritated piercing. The damage could have caused an infection as shown by heat, swelling, pain or discolored discharge. See a doctor if any of the symptoms you mention persist more than 24 hours.
