I'm almost positive my cartilage is infected. What should I do and is there anything I can do for the pain?

Go to the doctor. They’ll probably need to prescribe you an antibiotic cream. In the mean time, take the piercing out, and keep the area clean and dry.

Doctor. I agree with @papayalily. If you have reddish streaks/line coming from the area it is an emergency situation.

i dont even think i can get the piercing out its way to painful

Do you have any antibiotic cream you can put on it until you can see a doctor in the morning?

@ferret22736 Oh no, sounds very bad. Maybe the doc can suggest a numbing cream before you attempt to take it out? The only cream I know of I would not recommend on open skin. I agree with @chyna put some ointment on it, I would not suggest cream. Neosporin, or Bacitracin.

ill put some neosporin on it but will i be ok if i wait a couple days b4 seening a doctor cause i dont think ill be able to go tomorrow

Yes, you’ll be okay if you wait, you won’t die, but I would go as soon as posible so you can get it taken care of and you won’t have to suffer any longer.

ok thanks

@ferret22736 As long as you do not get reddish streaks, or if the red inflammation that might be around the area, if that grows significantly, like a half inch every 12 hours, then you should be fine if you have to wait a couple of days. The streaks are a sign of blood poisoning. The redness growing significantly can be cellulitis, both need to be treated aggressively with antibiotics. What you described sounds like a very local infection though.

[mod says] Minor typos in title corrected via internal edit.

In my opinion, and that should always, always be taken with a grain of salt… no matter what your opinions of alternative medicine or mainstream medicine, or any other kind of medicine, one of the any things that mainstream, AMA medicine pretty much does better than anyone else is to deal with infections. If you think you have an infection then go to a doctor and get it treated. If your infection is only “skin deep” then you might get by with good soakings of it, using cotton balls soaked in peroxide, applied every couple of hours. But if you really think that the infection has gone deep, into the cartilage, then you should consult a doctor.

@lillycoyote Peroxide will dry it out and take off healthy skin cells as well as dead ones. Warm water and soap is the way to go.

Yup. Infected. No doubt about it. Take out the piercing and go to the doctor.

Doctor ASAP

I remember someone telling me not take my piercing out when I thought it was infected because the skin could grow over the infection and then it would be under my skin… Not sure how true this is since it was advice from a friend that was in no way a professional. That being said, I think it’s best to get a dr to see it / take it out. Also, pure seasalt soaks should also help, do not use table salt!

I am just curious. Did you get this done by a professional, and have you been turning it and putting antibacterial stuff on it as directed, from the time you got it pierced?

Go to a doctor. You are playing with fire.

ya i got it done at clairs and i was turning it and cleaning it but once it got infected its so painful i cant touch it at all it hurt all the time…..

@ferret22736 Did you make an appointment with a doctor tomorrow?

my mom is makeing me an appointment so idk when it will be but it will be soon

@ferret22736 Good. Let us know what happens :).

will do

i got my ear checked out and the dr told me to take it out and gave me some antibiotics