I received a message from a gal who was having problems with an ear piercing:

I can't get a good picture of the piercing so I'll try my best to describe the situation. I got my 4th piercing on my earlobe around the end of May 2012, and I think I may have created another hole next to the actual piercing. The piercing is probably around 90% healed; the front hole is healed and never bleeds, but the back hole (where the earring comes out of) is still healing and sometimes will bleed a tiny bit. I've been cleaning my piercing with salt water and anti bacterial soap, I have not used any creams or lotions on it, it does not hurt or ache and there is no pus. However, I think I may have poked another hole at the back of my ear when I pushed the earring back through the hole after I took it out to clean it. So now, I think I have one front hole, and two holes in the back. The earring can go through the front and out the back in two separate holes, and the two back holes are not connected. Something might have ripped on the inside of the piercing. I'm trying to close one of the holes, and the skin on the new one has already formed over but the area around it looks a bit red. Should I continue to clean it as I have been doing? Or should I get it checked out?

Any information would be helpful, thanks!

Hi there,

Your description is good, but I'm still not going to be able to offer thorough advice without seeing you, or at least a clear, close up photo or two. I do offer professional online/photo consultations for a nominal fee. Once you sign up and send me photos, I can provide you with my professional opinion.

Are you wearing body jewelry or a traditional earring? When you wear body jewelry there is NO REASON to take the jewelry out to clean it!

So I would suggest you make sure that you get in quality body jewelry of an appropriate size, style, and material, and get it in the hole you want to keep and then leave it in for a few months before considering changing it. Maybe something from here.

Are you using saline spray, or doing actual saline soaks? Soaking has more benefits than spraying or splashing with salt water.

Also, strong antibacterial products can delay your healing as they tend to kill off healthy cell growth. I'd suggest you switch to Briotech spray for piercing care and troubleshooting. It is FAR more effective than any other product I've ever used on piercings!