CHILDREN’S HEALTH: EARRING PROBLEMS
Pierced ears frequently cause problems involving the earlobes. These problems not only are annoying but are occasionally serious. Three common earring problems are infection, eczema, and injury. Problems may occur if the ear piercer does not give proper instructions for care of the ears, or if the instructions are not properly followed.
Infection of the earlobes immediately after the operation may be caused by lack of proper sterile technique during the piercing. Infection occurring weeks later is usually from failure to leave “training” (post) earrings in place or to care for the pierced earlobes adequately.
Infections that occur after the first month are the result of improperly inserting the earrings. One common error is inserting earrings with posts that are too short for the earlobes. Another common error is pushing the guards in too far along the posts. Both of these mistakes cause pressure on the earlobes and injury to the skin; infection quickly sets in. Pulling down the lobe to insert the post can also cause infections. Pulling the lobe curves the straight channel the piercer has made and results in scratching the inside of the channel with the end of the post; the scratches then become infected. Sometimes infection is caused simply by inserting unclean earrings.
Eczema is a skin irritation. Eczema may develop on the earlobe if a person is sensitive or allergic to the metals used in inexpensive earrings. The skin of the ear-lobe becomes red, scaly, itchy, and sometimes infected.
The most common injury occurs when wearing hoop earrings during athletics and dancing. If a hoop is accidentally pulled or gets caught on something, the hoop can tear the earlobe neatly in half.
Signs and symptoms
Signs of eczema are redness, irritation, itching, and scaliness of the skin of the earlobe. Signs of infection are swelling, redness, lumps in the earlobes, tenderness, discharge, and rawness around the pierced openings.
Home care
At the first sign of any earlobe problem, remove the earrings. Then leave them out until the condition is corrected. Infection often is impossible to cure with earrings in place. If the infection is severe, the opening may heal closed and require re-piercing.
After removing the earrings, apply antibiotic ointment to the front and back of the lobes. Soak the earlobes in warm water.
If the irritation is severe, if the irritation does not clear up with treatment, or if there are signs of infection, see your doctor.
Precautions
• Ask the ear piercer for detailed instructions for care of newly pierced ears.
• Inquire whether the piercer will treat problems if they should occur.
• Leave training earrings in for one month after piercing. Turn them daily, and splash the fronts and backs with alcohol.
Medical treatment
Oral antibiotics may be required to cure infection. If the earlobe is badly cut or torn, plastic surgery may be necessary. The doctor may prescribe a steroid ointment if there is eczema but no infection.
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