Infected piercings
Overview
An infected piercing can be serious if it's not treated quickly. Get immediate medical help if you think your piercing is infected.
Symptoms
Your piercing might be infected if: the area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour)there's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellowyou feel hot, cold or shivery, or generally unwell
Treatment
You may need antibiotics if your piercing is infected. This can be a cream, ointment, or tablets.
Prevention
There are things you can do to reduce the risk of a piercing getting infected. choose a qualified, experienced and licensed piercer choose a qualified, experienced and licensed piercer clean your piercing twice a day clean your piercing twice a day use warm, salty water to soften any crusting use warm, salty water to soften any crusting gently turn the jewellery while cleaning the piercing gently turn the jewellery while cleaning the piercing use a clean paper towel to dry the piercing use a clean paper towel to dry the piercing gargle with salty water or an alcohol-free mouthwash if you have a mouth piercing gargle with salty water or an alcohol-free mouthwash if you have a mouth piercing do not do your own piercings (you're much more likely to get an infection) do not do your own piercings (you're much more likely to get an infection) do not use cotton wool to clean the piercing (use a cotton bud or pad) do not use cotton wool to clean the piercing (use a cotton bud or pad) do not pick at any crusting do not pick at any crusting do not twist or turn jewellery when the piercing is dry do not twist or turn jewellery when the piercing is dry do not use a towel to dry the piercing do not use a towel to dry the piercing do not have sex until a genital piercing has healed do not have sex until a genital piercing has healed do not have oral sex until a mouth piercing has healed do not have oral sex until a mouth piercing has healed do not go swimming for the first 24 hours after a piercing do not go swimming for the first 24 hours after a piercing