Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsInfection CausesSymptomsTreatmentHow to CleanTypes of Lip PiercingsPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Infection Causes
Symptoms
Treatment
How to Clean
Types of Lip Piercings
Prevention
An infected lip piercing is a common complication after piercing and jewelry placement. Typical symptoms include mild discomfort, itching, redness, and mild discharge from the wound. However, if yourpiercingbecomes swollen, very painful, hot, leaks blood or pus, or you feel generally unwell, you may have an infection.
Since the mouth harbors bacteria, infections are likely to occur in piercings in or around the mouth.Food particles or smoking can add to the risk of infection with oral piercings.
Tony C French / Getty Images
Causes
Piercings anywhere on your body may become infected. One study of 10,912 emergency room visits due to piercing complications found 13% were because of infection, with oral piercing among the three most common sites (navel and nipple were the others).
A piercing is an open wound and vulnerable topathogens(germs) that may enter and cause an infection. The mouth’s moist environment harbors lots of bacteria.Because of their location on the mouth, lip piercings are especially at risk of infection due to food, smoke, or other exposures.
While some discomfort after a piercing is expected, be on the lookout for more serious symptoms that may indicate an infection. These include:
The Association of Professional Piercers notes that these symptoms last for about three to five days but should then resolve. Keep in mind that a piercing heals from the outside to the inside and may seem more healed than it yet is.Healing from a lip piercing takes about six to eight weeks.
In addition to localized symptoms, you may feel generally unwell. Systemic (whole-body)signs of infectioninclude:
Fatigue and muscle aches also are common with systemic infection.
When to Call a Healthcare ProviderIf you notice these signs of infection, contact a healthcare provider right away:Major swellingPus or a pus-filled blisterPain that exceeds normal tendernessFever or chills
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
If you notice these signs of infection, contact a healthcare provider right away:Major swellingPus or a pus-filled blisterPain that exceeds normal tendernessFever or chills
If you notice these signs of infection, contact a healthcare provider right away:
If you have abacterial infection, you may needantibiotics. Thus, it’s essential to have a medical evaluation if you notice signs of infection. You may also be able to treat your infected lip with over-the-counter (OTC) medication and at-home remedies.
OTC Medication
Using OTC medications can help you feel more comfortable while your infection heals.Some things that may help include:
Avoid aspirin while bleeding remains a risk. It’s also not recommended for use in children.
You should not remove a piercing even if it is infected.Doing so would result in closing the hole, which could then seal the infection inside rather than allowing it to drain.
Home Remedies
In addition to OTC treatments, some at-home treatments can help an infected lip. These include:
Cleaning your piercing is important, especially if you develop an infection. Use the following tips to keep your pierced lip clean:
After every meal, brush your teeth and rinse with a saltwater solution or mouthwash. In addition, since hand and bath towels can harbor bacteria, be sure to only use disposable paper towels for drying your piercing as it heals.
Avoid needlessly touching your piercing, sexual contact around the piercing, smoking, and immersing your piercing in water. These preventive measures can reduce the likelihood of introducing new bacteria while your piercing is healing.
When you think of lip piercings, you may think of a single loop on the upper or lower lip. But, there are dozens of different ways to pierce lips. Some common lip piercing styles include:
Regardless of the type of lip piercing you choose, be sure to find an experienced and qualified piercer to do body piercings.
Preventing infection starts with good aftercare habits. Be sure to follow your piercer’s instructions for keeping the area clean. Some tips include the following:
Summary
Lip piercings may be more prone to infections due to their location on the mouth, which harbors bacteria. While some tenderness is expected during the healing phase, some things, like excessive swelling, pain, and oozing blood or pus, may indicate an infection is developing.
Sometimes OTC medications and at-home therapy are enough to treat an infected lip, but it’s best to check with a healthcare provider to be sure.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service.Infected piercings.American Dental Association.Oral piercings.Tomov G, Stamenov N, Neychev D, Atliev K.Candida Carriers among Individuals with Tongue Piercing-A Real-Time PCR Study.Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 May 31;11(6):742. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11060742Cirks BT, Maranich A, Nylund CM, Barron J, Reeves PT.Emergency Department Visits After Body Piercings.Pediatr Emerg Care. 2024 Dec 1;40(12):882-888. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003284Association of Professional Piercers.Suggested aftercare for oral piercings.UC Berkeley.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know the Signs and Symptoms of Infection.Kaiser Permanente.Infection From Body Piercings: Care Instructions.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Signs My Piercing Is Infected.TruCare Dentistry.Here’s everything you should know about oral piercings and its impact on dental hygiene.Reshma RK, Bhateja S, Soni T, Arora G, Arora ST, Charan V.Oral and perioral piercings: Awareness and knowledge among undergraduate dental students in a private dental college, Haryana. International Dental Journal of Student’s Research 2021;9(3):157–161.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Service.Infected piercings.American Dental Association.Oral piercings.Tomov G, Stamenov N, Neychev D, Atliev K.Candida Carriers among Individuals with Tongue Piercing-A Real-Time PCR Study.Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 May 31;11(6):742. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11060742Cirks BT, Maranich A, Nylund CM, Barron J, Reeves PT.Emergency Department Visits After Body Piercings.Pediatr Emerg Care. 2024 Dec 1;40(12):882-888. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003284Association of Professional Piercers.Suggested aftercare for oral piercings.UC Berkeley.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know the Signs and Symptoms of Infection.Kaiser Permanente.Infection From Body Piercings: Care Instructions.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Signs My Piercing Is Infected.TruCare Dentistry.Here’s everything you should know about oral piercings and its impact on dental hygiene.Reshma RK, Bhateja S, Soni T, Arora G, Arora ST, Charan V.Oral and perioral piercings: Awareness and knowledge among undergraduate dental students in a private dental college, Haryana. International Dental Journal of Student’s Research 2021;9(3):157–161.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Health Service.Infected piercings.American Dental Association.Oral piercings.Tomov G, Stamenov N, Neychev D, Atliev K.Candida Carriers among Individuals with Tongue Piercing-A Real-Time PCR Study.Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 May 31;11(6):742. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11060742Cirks BT, Maranich A, Nylund CM, Barron J, Reeves PT.Emergency Department Visits After Body Piercings.Pediatr Emerg Care. 2024 Dec 1;40(12):882-888. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003284Association of Professional Piercers.Suggested aftercare for oral piercings.UC Berkeley.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know the Signs and Symptoms of Infection.Kaiser Permanente.Infection From Body Piercings: Care Instructions.University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Signs My Piercing Is Infected.TruCare Dentistry.Here’s everything you should know about oral piercings and its impact on dental hygiene.Reshma RK, Bhateja S, Soni T, Arora G, Arora ST, Charan V.Oral and perioral piercings: Awareness and knowledge among undergraduate dental students in a private dental college, Haryana. International Dental Journal of Student’s Research 2021;9(3):157–161.
National Health Service.Infected piercings.
American Dental Association.Oral piercings.
Tomov G, Stamenov N, Neychev D, Atliev K.Candida Carriers among Individuals with Tongue Piercing-A Real-Time PCR Study.Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 May 31;11(6):742. doi:10.3390/antibiotics11060742
Cirks BT, Maranich A, Nylund CM, Barron J, Reeves PT.Emergency Department Visits After Body Piercings.Pediatr Emerg Care. 2024 Dec 1;40(12):882-888. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000003284
Association of Professional Piercers.Suggested aftercare for oral piercings.
UC Berkeley.Body piercings: cleaning and healing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Know the Signs and Symptoms of Infection.
Kaiser Permanente.Infection From Body Piercings: Care Instructions.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Signs My Piercing Is Infected.
TruCare Dentistry.Here’s everything you should know about oral piercings and its impact on dental hygiene.
Reshma RK, Bhateja S, Soni T, Arora G, Arora ST, Charan V.Oral and perioral piercings: Awareness and knowledge among undergraduate dental students in a private dental college, Haryana. International Dental Journal of Student’s Research 2021;9(3):157–161.
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