My ear piercing is infected (redness, discharge). What should I do? I have tried polysporin for 6 weeks with no change.

Hello Ma'am,

The best thing to do in such a case is to remove the piercing completely for a few days to allow your ear to heal. This is because your body reacts to the presence of the piercing, so you will have to wait until the infection has passed before replacing the piercing.

Once removed, you will need to wash the ear with a simple mild soap about twice a day. If the redness and discharge do not subside in 3 days, you will need to go for a consultation.

What about Polysporin™? It is a safe bet that applying this cream will not change anything in your case, as it is not meant to cure an infection (more to prevent an infection) and since you have exposed the bacteria on your ear to the antibiotics found in the cream, it is a safe bet that they have found a way to live in spite of the antibiotic (what is called antibiotic resistance).

Good day,

Alexandre Chagnon, pharmacist