Did anyone have with it? I didn't have any infection since very early childhood (and only remember some horrible smelling ointment). I never take off earrings, and it's always gold.

One of the holes looked black for a few weeks and I finally decided ot clean it with the alcohol. I took the earring out and couldn't put it back - it hurt. Also, when I feel it, it's like something (a tiny ball) inside and it hurts.

I've been cleaning around it with alcohol and putting the triple antibiotic ointment since yesterday. Will try to get to the Dr tomorrow (physician?)

Good idea to check it out by the doctor.

Recently, both my earlobes swelled up from normal, gold earrings. No amount of antibiotic ointment helped, but cortisone ointment for allergies worked like magic. I have now worn those same earrings 5 days straight, with no problems.

hm. no swelling here, though...

Did you try eating a Homentash?

Hope it gets better soon.

This is why I have never wanted pierced ears. I seem to recall girls in my class in elementary school always having infections, and that just turned me off for good.

Put on an antiseptic.

thanks, spiffy (i was about 5 y. old when they were pierced. honestly, i don't think i even knew where we were going till we came to the place and i highly doubt i asked for it myself)

what's antiseptic?

Don't panic, but it's possible that the back of your earring might been inside your earring hole.

i wear only hoops

Okay. Never mind, then.

I don't think you need a doctor. It's happened to me a few times. Put on some Bacitracin or similar. It should go away in 2-3 days.

That happened to me. It wasn't fun.

I keep Daisy from Simply Whispers in the house; it's much gentler than alcohol

It's only an earlobe. Worst that happens, you can live without it.

we have a winner!!! last night (or rather this morning ) i was putting the cream again before bed and tried to squeeze out the ewww stuff. it worked! (whereas before it didn't) guess, the cream softened it or something. looked like dirt (?) and a bit of pus.

Clean the earring backs with alcohol, and then put bacitracin on the backs of the earring, and into the hole itself. You need to get the infection that is inside too.

this morning i first put the earrings back in (after soaking the closures in alcohol), but then took them off. didn't think of putting the cream on the earrings to put them in. great idea - thanks.

Get things like this all the time and I never need a doctor for it.... Objective is to get it to drain. Clean the earring with alcohol or put on cream and stick it through the hole and pull it out. It'll eventually drain. You can use warm water also. Keep it up how you've been doing it...I've had some serious ones that always ended up draining on its own.
Feel good!