How to identify an ear piercing infection?

Ear piercing infected, will antibiotics used for another infection work?

• I had my ear pierced since November of 2011. Well a few weeks ago, I decided to take my ear ring out and put another in there since it was past the deadline of being taken out. When i took it out, it didn't seem like it had healed a lot at all since I last got it pierced, and when i went to go to take my other one out, a bump in the back of my ear busted and pus cam out. I cleaned my ears, and put the earring back in. I went to the doctor a few weeks to ago to treat another infection i had (pelvic infection) and i was wondering that antibiotic would also treat me ear infection. If not, could i do stuff at home to help treat it, or should i go back to the doctor and ask for another medication?

• Answer:

  You probably don't need to take oral antibiotics for such a localized infection. What worked for me, was to gently clean it a few times a day with a gauze moistened with hydrogen peroxide, and then apply an antibiotic cream such as Bacitracin to the area. Dip the post part of the earring in the Bacitracin too, to make sure it gets into the hole. Another good one is simply called Triple Antibiotic Ointment. These are both over the counter and you don't need a prescription. This worked fine for me, it was gone in 4 days after I started the treatment. ***Good luck, hope this helps!