Lip pierce infections, are the downside to the fashion statement that some seem to fancy, lip piercings. Sometimes people say beauty is pain, well, in this case, it most definitely is. Read on to know more about this downside to your fashion statement.
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How lip pierce infections develop
Lip piercings are prone to infection due to regular contact with makeup, food, saliva, and other bacteria, especially during the earlier healing stage.
If you have a double lip piercing, like a vertical labret or dahlia, you may become more likely to develop lip pierce infections. Infection may affect all openings, or not.
How to identify a lip pierce infection
If it is a new piercing, it is normal for it to get irritated. The skin is adapting to the new hole in your lip.
You may experience throbbing of the area during the first two weeks, redness, warmth in the region, clear discharge, mild swelling. Swelling or redness that spreads beyond the penetration location may be a sign of infection.
Specific early signs of lip pierce infection include: excessive bleeding, pus, fever, bump at the site of piercing, increasing pain, persistent warmth
Usually, moderate lip pierce infections can be managed in the house. Albeit, if this is your first time dealing with an infected lip piercing or if your symptoms are more severe, you should see your piercer right away.
Ways to avoid lip pierce infections
- Please don’t play with the jewelry or attempt to remove it
Touching, twisting, or playing with the jewelry may cause discomfort and swelling to increase, and also introduce new bacteria to the site.
Find the jewelry to be entirely off-limits for the most part. The only period that you need to contact it is while washing.
- Taking the jewels out may also be enticing, but that can potentially do more harm than good.
Not only can it cause more discomfort, removing the jewelry can permit closure of the new piercing. This can capture bacteria and spread the infection beyond the perforating spot.
- Clean around the lip piercing two to three times daily
When you encounter signs of infection, the best way to wash away pathogens and avoid more discomfort is to cleanse periodically. With a saline or salt solution, you can disinfect them two or three times a day.
Using a pre-made saline solution is usually the most effective way to clean the piercing using a pre-made saline solution. These can be ordered at the piercer’s store or local pharmacy over the counter (OTC).
How to keep your piercing clean:
- Soak paper towel or cloth with saline. Do not use thin towels, tissues, balls of cotton, or swabs of cotton; the fibers may get stuck in the jewelry and cause irritation.
- Wipe the cloth or towel carefully around every aspect of the jewels.
- Ensure that the outside and inside of your lip or cheek are washed.
- Repeat the process as many times as necessary, endeavor to remove any crust.
- Don’t prod or scrub because it can irritate the piercing.
Some people prefer to make their saline solution with a DIY sea salt solution instead of purchasing it over the counter.
To create a sea salt solution:
- Combine 8 ounces of warm water 1 tablespoon sea salt.
- Stir till the salt dissolves fully.
- Take the same procedures as you would with pre-made saline for cleansing.
How to treat lip pierce infections symptoms
For internal symptoms of a lip pierce infection, apply a cold compress or suck on ice.
Cold compresses on the inside of the lip or cheek will help reduce pain and swelling.
Suck as often as desired on ice or popsicles, especially within the first two days of healing;
If popsicles aren’t your choice, you might find relief using a bag of frozen veggies or a warm ice pack.
When using a cold compress,
1. Cover the frozen bundle with a thin cloth or paper towel.
2. Apply the cold pack to the affected area softly for up to five minutes at a time.
3. Do this twice a day
For external symptoms of a lip pierce infection, apply diluted tea tree oil
Tea tree oil contains antimicrobial properties that may help make the lip piercing clean and disinfected.
Pure tea tree oil is stong and may cause extra discomfort, so before using blend it with an equivalent quantity of saline solution or carrier oil.
Upon dilution of the oil do a patch test for sensitivity check To do so:
1. Apply the diluted oil on the inside of your elbow.
2. Watch it for 24 hours.
3. If you don’t feel itchiness, redness or any other discomfort, applying elsewhere should be safe
You could use tea tree oil in your routine if the procedure is positive by:
adding a few drops into your saline solution and washing as usual.
Use it as a post-cleanse spot therapy: dip a clean paper towel into the diluted solution and apply softly to the outside of the piercing once or twice a day.
In conclusion
While it’s essential to clean your piercing, it’s just one part of a bigger care plan.
Learning to assess all that can come into contact with your lip and adjust accordingly can help you reduce the number of bacteria and dirt that gets into your piercing.
If your piercer recommends differently, you can begin your regular washing and soaking schedule. Keep up with this regimen until all symptoms subside, and until you fully recover and heal. If the symptoms do not clear within two to three days, or if they worsen, see your piercer.
Your piercer can look at the piercing and make specific cleaning and maintenance suggestions.
FAQs on Lips Infection
- How can you avoid lip pierce infections?
You can avoid lip pierce infections by cleaning the are two to three times a day, and avoid playing with the jewelry.
- How do you treat lip pierce infection symptoms?
For internal symptoms, apply a cold compress or suck on ice, while for For external symptoms, apply diluted tea tree oil
