Issues with a pierced ear

So, about three months ago, I decided to get my third piercing on my left ear... At first, the area just turned red and was tender to the touch. I assumed it was just a standard reaction, you know? But even after three months, it still hurts—I’ve been applying some hydrocortisone and I actually took the earring out entirely. Now, when I touch it, there's this hardness there, and whenever I attempt to slide an earring back in, it starts bleeding—well, more like a little spotting than actual bleeding, I suppose. Plus, I can't seem to get the jewelry through to the other side. About a week ago, I squeezed out something whitish, almost like a plug, and that’s when I finally removed the earring for good. Is this a sign that I should be sounding the alarm and heading to a doctor, or should I just stick with the cream and wait for it to heal completely? And, if I may ask, is it actually possible that the piercer accidentally nicked a nerve or something similar?

Thanks in advance 🙂

I went through the exact same thing, though I didn't end up with any bleeding around my fourth piercing... which is just great, because apparently having eight piercings across both ears wasn't enough for me.
In my main lobe, specifically that one slightly higher up—not on the cartilage, but right on the fleshy part—it got inflamed and turned into this hard little bump, almost like a tiny bead. I haven't worn anything in that hole for years, but the lump is still there, and no matter how much I try to squeeze it, that white stuff just keeps coming out. Yeah, that's what you're seeing. You could try slathering all sorts of ointments on it, maybe it'll clear up for you, but it hasn't worked for me, so I've just learned to leave it alone entirely. Honestly, it’s barely even visible.
Maybe give some St. John's Wort oil a shot? It’s usually pretty incredible for skin inflammation and healing wounds.

Alright, thanks for that... though I have to wonder—does it actually hurt when you touch it? Because, well, I don't exactly have the lump anymore since I managed to squeeze it out—if that's even the right way to put it—but it still feels quite tender to the touch...

wiredcrane49 said:Fine, thanks a lot... does it actually hurt when you touch it? Because I just squeezed out the little bead and now my ear is throbbing whenever I even graze it...

I dealt with this exact same thing after I pierced my cartilage. It’s been over a year and things have mostly settled down, except for when I sleep on my left side—then it gets sore and even bleeds if I stay on that side all night. Not a huge deal though, it's fine 🙂
Oh, right, it never even crossed my mind to just take the earring out 😁

Nothing out of the ordinary really, though I was dealing with that same kind of pain for about three or four months myself

Susan Long said:I went through that exact same ordeal myself—dealing with that cartilage piercing issue—and, well, after more than a year of dealing with it, I suppose everything is mostly fine now. It’s just... if I happen to sleep on my left side, I still get this nagging pain—and occasionally even some bleeding if I’m particularly stubborn about staying on that side all night. It isn't exactly a catastrophe, though—not by any means—but it is a bit of an inconvenience, I guess. Everything is five out of five now, for the most part. 🙂
Well, I suppose—if one were being particularly thorough—it hadn't even crossed my mind to suggest taking out the earring. 😁

Well, I suppose I was a bit overly optimistic—perhaps even a little naive—when I thought that if I just went ahead and extracted the splinter myself, the inflammation would clear up more quickly. It seemed like a logical shortcut at the time, I guess. But now, after having managed to pull it out, I’ve found myself in a rather frustrating predicament... it simply won't go back in properly. 😢

It’s not actually hurting, but since I haven't worn earrings in years, that little ball is just sitting there. I was thinking if I tried to force something through, maybe the piercing would open back up.
Honestly, you should probably just take it out and stop trying to force anything; you're more likely to cause an infection or end up with much bigger issues than you have now. Just accept that you'll just have two small holes. 🙂

Sandra Morris47 said:It doesn't even hurt, but I haven't worn an earring in years, so that little metal ball is just sitting there. If I were to try and push something through now, I suppose it might get inflamed again.
Honestly, you might be better off just taking it out entirely rather than trying to force anything—it could lead to much worse inflammation, and then you're looking at real problems. Maybe just accept that you'll have two little piercings... 🙂

Heh, well, I think I'm going to try and pop it back in anyway.🙂