Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the inflammation in the hole in the ear is made by a doctor on the one hand by taking a medical history, in which the duration and course of the inflammation is asked about and it is also important whether allergies, for example to nickel, are known in the medical history. On the other hand, the inflammation of the ear hole is a relatively easy to make eye diagnosis, in which the doctor checks whether typical signs of inflammation are present.
Therapy
Important in the treatment of ear hole inflammation is the removal of the triggering stimulus, i.e. the earring. This should not be used again until the inflammation is completely healed, as it only represents an additional irritation in the inflammation area. Unnecessary manipulation of the inflamed area, for example, frequent touching of the earlobe, should also be avoided.
If the inflammation is caused by an allergy (e.g. to nickel), it is necessary to change the earrings after the healing process to those with better tolerated material such as titanium. To fight the bacteria causing the inflammation, daily disinfection of the inflamed area is important. The disinfectant Octenisept or a special ear hole antiseptic from the pharmacy can be used for this purpose.One to two days after piercing an ear hole, slight signs of inflammation such as pain or redness are normal processes and therefore not a cause for concern. However, if the inflammation does not subside days later or if symptoms such as fever and swelling of the lymph nodes occur, a doctor should be consulted. The doctor can then prescribe antibiotic ointments that kill the bacteria.
Prognosis
With the right treatment, an inflammation in the hole in the ear usually heals without consequences and without complications within a few days. In extremely rare cases, usually combined with faulty treatment, scars or even deformations of the auricle can form.
Prophylaxis
Since the inflammation is usually caused by piercing the hole in the ear, hygiene is a good method to prevent inflammation. Often a so-called ear piercing gun is used, which pierces a hole through the earlobe and at the same time inserts the first pin. However, this ear piercing gun cannot be sterilely cleaned, so the device may be contaminated by bacteria.
The ear piercing gun also causes an unnecessarily large wound area when piercing the hole through the blunt earring, which can easily become infected. Therefore, never use an ear piercing pistol, but disposable needles. The advantage of these disposable needles is that on the one hand they are sterilely packaged, thus minimizing the number of bacteria in the wound.
On the other hand, these needles are pointed, which keeps the following wound as small as possible and thus also keeps the entry possibilities for bacteria low. When piercing the ear hole, the person performing the procedure should also disinfect his hands and put on gloves beforehand and the earrings should only be removed from the sterile packaging directly before insertion. In addition to jewelers and tattoo artists, the ear hole can also be pierced by a doctor.
Very important to prevent the inflammation of an ear hole is also the used material of the earrings. This should be as nickel-free as possible, since nickel can often cause allergies and consequently inflammation. Alternatively, titanium is a generally well-tolerated material that does not irritate the skin much.
In children, ear piercing should be performed as late as possible, at best not before the age of fourteen, because the earlier a potential allergy to the materials used begins, the more serious is its course in general and thus the accompanying inflammation. In addition, smaller children, who often reach for the painful puncture site, have an increased risk of inflammation, as bacteria can reach the hole in the ear. After piercing the hole in the ear, the jewelry earrings should only be used after the wound has healed, i.e. after four to six weeks.
During this period any potential contamination of the wound should also be avoided, such as a visit to the swimming pool, where bacteria can easily reach the wound surface. Proper care of the ear hole is also crucial for the prophylaxis of inflammation. Hands should be washed before any manipulation of the earring. Crusts on the ear hole should be removed with the help of a cotton swab soaked in disinfectant and the area underneath cleaned.
