i think my ears might be infected! :(

i got my ears pirced like a month ago. this sunday was 6 weeks,so i could take them out and swich them. so i swiched them one time. and today i swiched it to these dangly earings. when i took the earings out to put the dangly ones in, it was hurting really bad, but i thought it was normal. all day they were hurting, so when i got home from school i took them out and put the regular ones back in. however, my ears were staring to bleed, and they are swollen and they hurt really bad. is this normal or what!?! HELP PLEASE! IM IN PAIN!!!!!
:(

[ZykB]

I've had several skin infections so I believe I may be able to help you, though I am not a doctor. First off, if your skin around or in the affected area has become necrotic then you should go see a doc immediately. If it is merely swollen and red then you should clean the affected area several times a day. Also, clean the part of the earring that enters the hole before each use.

To clean your ear, use some light antibacterial soap and water. To clean your earring, hold the part that enters the hole under a flame for a few seconds and then clean it off (very well) with some hydrogen peroxide (not the kind you might use on your hair) and water. Finally, after you have dried off your ear, apply some Neosporin First Aid Topical Antibiotic Ointment ( http://www.neosporin.com/firstaid/neosporin.asp?sec=0&page=0&from=99 ).

You should reapply the Neosporin a couple times a day. I'm not certain but, if I were you, I think I'd just leave the earring out of that particular hole and just let it close over until fully healed. Then get another piercing in a slightly different area if you must.

Like I said, if your skin ever begins to get worse or become necrotic, go see your doc ASAP. I cured a rather nasty skin infection on the bridge of my foot by following these instructions, so, hopefully, this will help you as well. Keep in mind, also, that I'm not a doctor, but I have had enough experience that I can help you heal your ear =)

I hope my advice helps you and you heal quickly!

ZykB

P.S. Some good aspirin or ibuprofen is all I can really suggest for the pain... that is, unless you go see a doc and get a prescription for the really good stuff ;)  (i.e. hydrocodone, etc.)