How can you tell if a peircing is infected?

Help with an infected peircing!!!?

• Okay i have 3 lobe peircings, my middle cartialage , tragus and cartilage and i did 2 lobe, and the middle of my ear by myself and they both turned out tottallyy fine. i changed the middle cartialage within a week and its fine and doesnt hurt at all. anyway i peirced a second cartialge and it was fine for that night and the nextday but the second night i kept waking up in the middle of the night with it THROBBING. it was swollen and swore so i took out the peircing and blood was dripping out the hole. now its continually pussing and leaking a watery substinst. i peirced it with a sewing needle and used a stud staright out of my other peircing. please help me and try to tell me whats wrong! could i have a cauliflower ear? it sticks out further than my other ear and is swollen!!! my doctor said just to use antibiotic creme so i dont get cellulitus

• Answer:

  Your doctor is correct, and I'm having a hard time understanding why you'd disregard his expertise and turn to an anonymous internet forum. Your ear is infected, likely by staph or another normal skin bacteria due to improper piercing technique. Keep it clean and dry, use the antibiotic cream your physician provided you, and give it time. If you experience problems with your balance or hearing, develop a fever or have other symptoms of a more widespread infection, please revisit your doctor for more aggressive treatment.