Issues with preauricular pits

So, I recently went back and pierced my lip—using the old holes I had from years ago that basically closed up because I stopped wearing studs.
My aunt helped me out and told me to dab a little rubbing alcohol here and there and to move my lip every so often just to make sure the piercing settles right... everything seemed fine until yesterday when this tiny bit of blood started oozing from one of the holes... nothing crazy, just a little bit from the lip edge... honestly, I have no clue if I nicked it while brushing my teeth or if it just happened on its own...
Now I’m low-key freaking out because I heard stories about women getting nasty infections or complications where the piercing gets all swollen and stuff...
If anyone has any (constructive) advice on how to keep things from getting messed up so these dimples actually stay dimples, I’m all ears!
Why on earth am I bleeding now... it’s been almost three weeks since I did this!!!!!

help! 🙏

Could you be dealing with a metal allergy? I mean, do you usually wear costume jewelry, and does it tend to cause any rashes or itching for you? (Of course, that’s a moot point if your earrings are solid gold or titanium 🙂)

Back when I was just a kid, I had my ears pierced too, though I mostly stuck to wearing gold. Eventually, though, I developed this allergy to basically every base metal out there—anything that wasn't a precious metal. Once I tried putting in some non-gold earrings, it was a disaster. There was minor bleeding, then a little scab, then it started oozing, then a massive crust formed... honestly, I just gave up on earrings altogether. There isn't exactly a cure for that; it's simply "wear gold or nothing." But, well, that doesn't necessarily mean you're facing the same thing.

I’ve had my ears pierced three separate times 😢 ... and every single time, they ended up infected. 😠 ... 😢 ... I’m probably allergic to some specific alloy in gold or something. It isn't an issue with cheap costume jewelry...

It doesn't usually happen right away, either. Once I stopped wearing surgical steel and switched over to standard gold, it would take about a month before the infection actually kicked in.

You’ll know there’s a problem when you try to move your earring and it feels a bit sticky, or if it gets harder to slide it around. That’s your sign that it’s festering. You need to act immediately. One time I didn't, and my entire earlobe swelled up with blood and hurt like hell. It was brutal. 😁 ...

👋Only time will tell. 🙂

nimbleskipper17 said:Maybe you're allergic to metals? Do you usually wear costume jewelry—does it ever cause a rash or itching? (not that this matters if your earrings are solid gold or titanium 🙂)

Back when I was a kid, I had my ears pierced too, mostly stuck with gold. Eventually, I developed an allergy to basically any base metal except the precious stuff. Once I tried wearing some non-gold earrings, it started with a little bleeding, then a scab, then it got infected, then a massive crust formed... so yeah, I just gave up on earrings entirely. There's no cure for that—it's either gold or nothing. But that doesn't mean you have the same thing...

I don't think it's an allergy, though. I've worn silver and cheap jewelry before without any issues. No rashes, no itching, just a little bit of blood. Still, maybe I'm developing one... who knows... 😕
I've been soaking the earring stud in alcohol (a memory I won't soon forget 😁) to prevent infection... honestly, might just take a sip myself, people say alcohol is a decent anesthetic... 😉

It’s really not a big deal, just give it a quick disinfectant wipe and you'll be fine.

It'll pass, just wear some gold jewelry until it does...

It looks like a little infection might be brewing, and things could get a bit nasty and pus-filled soon...
Honestly, why even worry about any pus? To me, that’s just a sign that your immune system is doing its job and pinning the infection down right where it belongs.
I’d only start getting genuinely concerned if there was zero drainage while the swelling and redness started spreading all over my ear.

Things just got messy 👎

Took my piercings out today and—yikes—the skin behind my ears is looking pretty red. It looks like some kind of crusty buildup has formed inside the holes too... both of them. It’s hard to the touch, and honestly, it stings like hell.
I went ahead and cleaned both ears with rubbing alcohol.
Right now I'm leaving the piercings out entirely—just too scared to put anything back in while the area is this red and tender...

Anyone got advice...?

That’s just how it goes... it's infected... exactly what happened to me. You're better off calling it quits... I highly doubt you'll find some random metal on your own that won't trigger an allergic reaction...

And if you try to put them back in, things are only going to get worse 😢...

Hmm 😕
What exactly is missing from that "normal," "healthy" little opening? When you touch it, it doesn't feel quite right—almost like there's a small, solid rod-like sensation under your fingertips instead of just an opening.
(I'm struggling to find the right way to describe this... 👎 )

RE: You should go see your primary care physician.

Yeah, but her ear is red, sore, and stinging... it's the early stages. I really wouldn't recommend trying to fix it. You might be able to keep wearing earrings, but the infection will just keep coming back. It’ll stay inflamed and festering until it finally hits a breaking point. Then you'll have pus leaking out of your ear 👎 and the redness will spread, causing the earlobe to swell up from all that internal 😳 ...

Maybe just go see a doctor.

Kimberly Davis52 said:Maybe you should just see a doctor.

See one? 😳

I am speaking from my own three experiences from several years ago. 😳 😁

gentlecanyon92 said:Let's go. 😳

I’ve worked hard to refine myself, yet people still address me with zero respect. Unbelievable!

Kimberly Davis52 said:maybe just go see a doctor.

I mean, we aren't really looking for advice on some tiny thing here—especially when there are smart people around who might have actually dealt with this before and could actually help... why bother hitting up a clinic...

Hmm, sounds like a mirror image of my own experience.
Just keep dabbing it with some rubbing alcohol until that inflammation finally settles down.
In my opinion, you should probably keep the earrings in if you're worried about the piercing closing up. But—and this is a big but—you absolutely have to take them out and clean them constantly while the swelling subsides. And honestly? Stick to gold. I tried using those surgical steel ones once, and they just ended up getting infected anyway. 😢

I dealt with that exact same issue with my second piercing on the left ear. 😁

Honestly? You just have to deal with it like an adult—occasionally pop the earring out, squeeze the gunk out, let it breathe for a day or two, and then put it back in. It hurts, I know... but what are you going to do?

The absolute worst part for me was that split second where I thought I’d actually pulled some tiny bits of skin or tissue out of the hole... ugh, seriously disgusting!!!

ps. if the pain is intense... just go see a doctor instead. 😍

Amy Gomez36 said:You just have to man up. Occasionally pop the pimple, squeeze out the gunk, wait a day or two, and then let it heal. It hurts, but... what can you do?

For me, the absolute worst part was thinking I’d actually pulled some tiny piece of flesh or skin out of the pore... gross!!!

And you just keep going until your hands give out and you don't have anything left to push with.☕

Betty Rivera14 said:basically, you just keep pushing until your hands give out and there’s nothing left to grab onto.☕

Yeah, look at me... I was being so incredibly brave—so "heroic," if you will—that now I'm just sitting here laughing at my own stupidity.😬

vrabac said:hmm sounds pretty much like what happened to me.
Rinse it with rubbing alcohol until the inflammation dies down.
I guess you can wear earrings if you don't want the holes to close up—but you gotta take them out and clean everything regularly until the swelling goes away. And stick to gold... I had infections even with surgical steel 😢

That's my move—just grit my teeth and deal with it 😁 because I am NOT losing these piercings!!!!!!!!!
I went with gold. I take them out every single day to clean and disinfect the holes. Then I slather on some antibiotic cream (grabbed a tube at CVS with my mom). Let them fight. Cream vs. infection... let's see who wins.

👍

She lets out this little whimper when she thinks nobody's listening