What should you know about cellulitis piercing?

A new or irritated piercing can have mild tenderness and limited redness, but expanding redness, warmth, swelling, or worsening pain suggests inflammation that should be checked. A clinician will look for cellulitis, a trapped earring, an abscess, or irritation from the jewellery material. Cartilage piercings, facial piercings, and piercings near the eye may need particularly careful assessment because nearby structures can be affected. Fever or feeling unwell makes infection more concerning. A history of Type 2 Diabetes or another condition affecting healing should be shared.

Wash your hands before touching the area and clean it gently with the product advised by a clinician. Do not twist, squeeze, or push jewellery through swollen tissue. Do not remove the jewellery on your own if it may trap drainage; ask a healthcare professional or experienced piercer what is safest, especially when swelling is significant. Avoid alcohol, peroxide, harsh scrubs, and unapproved creams. Keep cosmetics, headphones, helmets, and dirty pillowcases away from the site.

Get same-day medical advice for spreading redness, increasing pain, marked swelling, pus, fever, or jewellery that is sinking into the skin. Seek emergency help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, confusion, faintness, or rapidly worsening illness. These symptoms can indicate a severe allergic response or a serious infection such as Sepsis.

Ask whether the jewellery should stay in place, whether a swab or drainage procedure is needed, which treatment is suitable, and how to clean the site. Ask when the piercing can be replaced or reattempted safely.