My 10-year-old daughter got her ears pierced 3.5 months ago. I was always concerned that one earring looked lower than the other, but she was so happy with her earrings that I didn't say anything and let it go. Last week, I suddenly noticed that the earring that always looked low was MUCH lower than before, and when we took the earring out the hole was very red and felt lumpy (but does not look lumpy). The hole also looked sort of like a slit, so I was worried that it tore and we took the earring out. I had to take my daughter to the pediatrician for something else a few days later, so while we were there I asked him to look at her ear. He immediately wanted to put her on an antibiotic (I was hesitant but she's starting it today) and wants me to talk to the nurse practitioner who did the piercing, but she's out of the office until next week.
Here are my questions that the doctor couldn't answer: Will the hole close up after 3.5 months? How long will it take? When will we able to repierce? Is the lump a keloid, scar tissue, or from the infection? What would cause this? It doesn't seem to be an allergic reaction because her other ear is fine. Is it possible that the piercing appeared lower than normal because of the lump? I really can't tell if the hole has ripped because it's still red and irritated, but when I look at pictures from when she got it pierced and last week it looks dramatically different.
If anyone has had a similar experience, I would really appreciate your input! Thanks.
Thanks so much to everyone who replied! Since I last wrote, my daughter finished the oral antibiotic and the lump is essentially gone. The piercing is closing up, although it is still red and looks tender, but my daughter says it doesn't hurt. We're going to give it some more time to heal and then take her back to the nurse practitioner to have it repierced. I was really worried that she would be self-conscious about having only one earring in the meantime, but she doesn't mind at all.
Just to reiterate, we had her ears pierced at the pediatrician's office, not the mall. I wanted to take her to a piercing shop but couldn't find one that would pierce a child's ears.
It was really great getting your feedback -- thank you again!
the hole will close. then you can redo the piercing. make sure she finished her antibiotics. i can't say what caused her infection, but in our case, my daughter had an allergic reaction.
The answer to most of your questions is Maybe. You need to wait and see what happens as she heals.
As for the cause, it could have been anything she's encountered. There are a lot of ways for bacteria to get in. It could have been brewing since the day she was pierced (by the earring or equipment) or picked up later. She could have sensitivity to the metal that kept the hole from healing. Too many possibilities to know for sure.
An uneven and stretched piercing suggests you had it done someplace like Claire's, Walmart, or a kiosk in a mall. When she's healed up and if she wants a redo, go to a professional piercing/tattoo shop.
If it's infected my guess would be that the lump is a little swollen gland.
The antibiotics should help that go away.
With some people the hole will close up in a few weeks while for others it might take a few months.
Once it's very well healed up, try having it re-pierced.
I had to let a piercing close 2 times. Once because it was infected and once because they were uneven. If it's uneven, let it close over and try again later. No idea what the lump might be. I have not been on an AB for an ear piercing infection. I would ask the doc why an oral AB vs something topical.
I've had to let 2 different upper ear (cartridge) piercings close up, several years apart, both after a year of wearing them. The never stopped hurting, they hurt all the time & were red. When I had the 2nd one done, I picked a different place, thinking it was just placement, but it still always hurt. I've decided that even though I liked the look, the look didn't like me. You can't see where they were now, unless you take a magnifying glass to it.
I another piercing which I did by myself 30 yrs ago, did get a lump & was swollen, I cleaned it with peroxide everyday & eventually it healed, the lump went away & I still have it. I would let your daughter's piecing heal & then have it re-pierced.
Another thing to consider, my niece turned out to be highly allergic to the hypo-allergenic stainless steel that is common to use when piercing. My SIL, is a RN & has pierced many ears, was helping her daughter, 6 at the time keep them clean, but it got bad. Her little ears where so infected, inflamed & painful after several weeks. Daughter REALLY wanted those ear rings, tried not to tell how bad they hurt. My niece had to go on antibiotics for the infection & take out the ear rings & let them heal. When she was 12 or so, she had her ears re-pierced with the 14 k gold all the way through (not just coated) ear rings & she has been fine since. Good Luck.
I can't answer your questions specifically but my daughter had to let her piercing close in her one ear. It turns out to be the side she mostly sleeps on and it too got infected and required an antibiotic.
