Earstretching.net

One of my lobes is freaking out, and I'm not sure why. I stretched from 6g to 4g about a week ago, and I did everything right - a professional piercer inserted the eyelets (single flare, steel I believe) for me, with tapers and plugs that went through an autoclave, and I'm religious about doing sea salt soaks and chamomile soaks. I had the 6gs in a for a few months, so it's not a matter of stretching too quickly. I haven't mistreated my lobes like so many do.

So suddenly, yesterday, one of my lobes swells up. It's very big, very red and leaks pus and clear fluid when squeezed. For the last two days I hadn't been able to do sea salt soaks frequently because I was in the middle of a move, and my dirty hands/hair from moving are probably the cause. My other lobe is fine. I took an ibuprofen last night and it calmed the swelling a bit, but it's back in full force today.

So how do I treat this? Should I switch to glass plugs? Do I need antibiotics? HALP

Downsize to take the pressure off. I know you didn't stretch too soon but a swollen ear really needs to be downsized. Keep taking ibuprofen, make 100% sure you're sea salt soaks aren't too salty (and that you're not doing them too much), and never touch it for any reason ever. Also, don't sleep on it. If that doesn't help, you might need antibiotics.

I had a very swollen ear when I went to 0G earlier this year... I was convinced it was an infection but I went down two sizes and left it alone and it got a lot better pretty quick. Sea salt soaks seemed to make my swelling worse for a while. I was using steel eyelets too; I stretched with glass and changed to those a couple days later, which was a terrible idea. I think they cut my skin on the way in somehow and my ear just got really pissed off. So I'd never really recommend those for stretching.

Update: I've returned to a regular SSS schedule and much of the swelling seems to have gone away. The lobe is still a little red, but it's no longer puffy and painful. I didn't even take another anti-inflammatory. I guess it's just really sensitive to dirt. I'll be careful to keep it clean from now on.

Thanks for the advice! My lobes tend to do better the more sea salt soaks I do, so I try to pack as many into the day as possible. If it continues to flare up I'll downsize (I'm currently away from home, but if I get back and it's still bad I'll put the 6g back in), but it seems to be healing on its own.