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Infected piercings

Overview

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Signs of an infected piercing include blood or pus coming out of the piercing, or the area around it feeling swollen, painful or hot.

An infected piercing can be treated with antibiotics.

There are things you can do to prevent infections in a new piercing, including choosing a qualified piercer and cleaning the piercing correctly.

Some new piercings can get infected. You can help avoid this by following the advice from your piercer. See a GP if you think you have an infection.

Page last reviewed: 18/04/2023
Next review due: 18/04/2026