All conditions
Infected piercings
An infected piercing can lead to serious complications if not addressed promptly. Seek medical attention immediately if you suspect your piercing is infected. In the initial weeks following a new piercing, you may notice some changes. If you have a cartilage piercing in your ear or nose, small lumps may occasionally develop around the area. These lumps, known as granulomas, are caused by trapped fluid. You can manage them by soaking a pad in warm water and applying it to the lumps once daily.
Common symptoms:
Be tender, itchy, and the surrounding area may look slightly red on white skin, or a little darker than usual on dark skin
Produce a pale fluid that forms a crust
The area around it is swollen, painful, hot, very red or dark (depending on your skin colour)
There's blood or pus coming out of it – pus can be white, green or yellow
You feel hot, cold or shivery, or generally unwell