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: 6/17/2008 Subject: Swollen Tragus
Question Hi, i had my tragus pierced on the 28th of march and its still extremely swollen. I returned to the piercing parlour after the designated four weeks to go and have the cbr changed to a stud but the piercer refused to d it as my ear was still too swollen. I have no idea why my ear is still swollen the way it is (there is no pain at all) and just wondered if you had any tips on how to reduce the swelling
Answer You may be sleeping on it, and it may be irritated from care and handling.
Ice in a dry cold compress does usually reduce the swelling quickly in a few applications. Four weeks is usually much too soon to change ear cartilage jewelry such as the tragus, which can take 90 days or much longer to heal.
