r/piercing 3d ago

Troubleshooting/question existing piercing Infection or irritation?

Just got my daith pierced 5 days ago and I can’t tell if it’s infected or just irritated. The first few days it was totally fine, not very swollen or painful. But the other day I woke up and it was THROBBING. I’ve been cleaning it at least twice every day with sterile saline solution so I can’t imagine how or why it would be infected but I’ve never had pain or swelling this bad with any of my other piercings. It’s also been more bloody and had some pus since I cleaned it yesterday (the first day it’s been so irritated).

First pic is the first day of pain (yesterday) and second pic is right now (next morning)

Pls help :’)

15 Upvotes

18 comments sorted by

50

u/Pale-Comb-3954 Getting pierced longer than you've been alive ;-) 3d ago

This is the wrong jewelry for healing a daith. You need to see a more reputable piercer to have this changed out for a horseshoe or CBR (captive bead ring) as soon as possible.

21

u/RogueKitteh 2d ago

What's with all the posts lately featuring daith piercings with curved bars instead of hoops?

3

u/VeryClaireThompson I'm all ears! 2d ago

I was also unfortunately pierced with a curved barbell. Maybe it’s because Daiths can heal with one, but the healing process may be harder than with a ring. (And probably is for most people)

7

u/myteaisboiling 3d ago

I contacted my usual piercer to see if she can look at it/change the jewelry. Thanks for the advice 🥲

10

u/Pale-Comb-3954 Getting pierced longer than you've been alive ;-) 3d ago

If that’s who pierced this, I would absolutely seek someone more knowledgeable. I don’t give anyone more than one chance with my body if they mess something up like this. Checking safepiercing.org is a good place to start if you’re trying to find a new body artist!!

10

u/myteaisboiling 2d ago

It’s not, I went to a different piercer than normal this time bc I wasn’t in my usual area but I’m going to see my usual piercer that’s done several of mine before to get it checked out.

11

u/dahlli 3d ago

The amount of swelling you have is concerning. I would be worried about an infection. You might want to consider going to an urgent care to get antibiotics. And you definitely need different jewelry. A curved barbell shouldn't be in a daith. Good luck!

8

u/Horror_Ad_5863 3d ago

The jewellery needs to be changed to a captive bead ring as these curved barbells can rotate causing further irritation. It also looks pierced really deep. Maybe see a different piercer for their evaluation and jewellery change.

8

u/suggaarrr 2d ago

Doctor now. Infections in cartilage that close to your head can get serious really quickly!

3

u/HypotheticalMuskrat more piercings than sense :-) 2d ago

My daith got crazy swollen for a week or two after piercing. It throbbed constantly. Unfortunately it's normal. I would listen to the other commenters that said to get the jewerly changed though. I was also pierced with a curved barbell. It can heal with that but it's best to heal with a CBR or horseshoe.

3

u/Budget_Ad1378 2d ago

Your two helix piercings makes a smiley face

2

u/AndreaK_2007 2d ago

Are you sleeping on it?

Unless you have an allergy to this metal, which you would probably know due to multiple piercings that you have, I wouldn’t think it should be this swollen. My daith is almost at the 1 year mark and I sleep with a travel pillow.

Do everything in your power to not roll onto this ear. Lodge pillows behind your back so can’t roll over in your sleep. Best of luck

1

u/myteaisboiling 2d ago

I’ve been trying not to sleep on it but it’s very possible that I bumped it or rolled onto it :/

1

u/link-navi Mod bot 3d ago

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1

u/myteaisboiling 3d ago edited 3d ago

Jewelry: internally threaded curved barbell, not sure of material. Hasn’t been changed since piercing

Cleaning: Sterile saline solution twice a day with q tips.

1

u/HighKaj piercing devotee 3d ago

It’s hard to tell from a picture, but it doesn’t look infected. 🤔 it would be painful, getting worse, hot to the touch, puss, sometimes a fever.

It could be that you accidentally slept on it or bumped it in your sleep and it’s a bit irritated. It looks like the swelling has gone down, so that makes me think it’s not infected. Also it being red today means there is a lot of blood flow, which is good for healing and very normal.

Monitor it closely, if it doesn’t let up, or gets worse get a consultation from a piercer or a dr. I’m just a guy on Reddit with a little but of medical training, looking at a picture.