Ear piercing is a popular way among people around the world to showcase their style and express themselves. It’s a cultural thing for many parts of the world as well. Although ear piercing is a simple procedure, it can cause infection, bleeding, and many other complications if not cared for properly.
If you had your ears pierced years ago, sometimes you may be surprised to see your ears suddenly start bleeding without any warning years after the initial piercing. So, let’s dive deeper and look at the causes of ear-piercing bleeding after years, its potential treatments, and prevention methods.
Basics of Ear Piercing
Before getting into details of the causes of ear piercing bleeding, you need to know some basics about the procedure. For that, you must understand the anatomy of the ears. An ear has three parts: the outer, middle, and inner ear.
The outer ear has the pinna, which you can see at the outer part of an ear. Your middle ear is also known as the tympanic cavity, which is basically three connected bones and a canal. The inner ear also has three parts: vestibules, semicircular canals, and cochlea.
Before having an Ear Piercing, you should also research the place, process, aftercare, and potential side effects. The process is simple and takes a short time. While having an ear piercing, the piercer will start by marking the place on your ears where the piercing will take place.
Then the piercer will use a sterilized needle to make holes in your ears. After completing the process, the piercer will place a small earring or a stud inside the piercing. You must take proper care of your ear piercing to prevent infection. Regularly clean the place with saline solution.
General Causes of Ear Bleeding After Piercing
There are several reasons your ears can start bleeding after piercing. Here are some of the reasons causing ear piercing bleeding:
Infection
The most common reason for ear bleeding after piercing is an infection. Infection can happen for a variety of reasons, including not cleaning properly, not wearing the right jewelry, etc. If an infection happens in the piercing area, it may cause bleeding. So, you must ensure that the piercing is done correctly and in a safe environment.
Poor Piercing
If your piercing is placed poorly, it can also cause bleeding in your ear. Piercing too close to the cartilage or too deep can be a reason for the bleeding.
Allergy
After ear piercing, some metal may not suit your skin. Some jewelry can cause an allergic reaction to your skin and cause bleeding.
Dry Skin
Leaving your skin around the ear piercing to remain dry can lead to cracking your skin. As a result of damaged skin, your ear can start bleeding.
Overcleaning
Cleaning is very crucial after ear piercing. But if you end up overcleaning the surrounding area, it will irritate and lead to bleeding. So, clean the piercing area regularly, but not excessively.
Why is an Old Ear Piercing Bleeding?
If your old ear piercing is bleeding suddenly, it could be due to many reasons. Let’s see what they are:
Infection
The infection often comes up when you talk about ear piercing bleeding. It’s a significant reason for ear bleeding in this case. Several signs, such as swelling, redness, pain, discharge, etc., show that you may have an infection in the area. If you suspect any of these signs, see a doctor immediately.
Trauma
Trauma can also cause old ear piercing bleeding. If your piercing is bumped, jarred, or noise can cause trauma in your ear. As a result of it, your ear can start bleeding.
Improper Jewelry
If your jewelry does not suit your skin, it can also lead to bleeding in your old piercing. Sometimes, when you change the jewelry, the metal of it can cause an allergic reaction to your skin and make your piercing bleed. In this case, you should change the jewelry; the sooner, the better.
Improper Care
After having an ear piercing, you should be very serious about the aftercare. If you do not clean it regularly or use the proper cleaning solution, it will help bacteria to grow even after a long time. This will cause bleeding in your old ear piercing.
Ear Piercing Bleeding After 1 Year
If your ear piercing is bleeding after 1 year, it is most likely because of an infection. Infections can happen for a number of factors, including unclean equipment for piercing, improper aftercare, allergic reactions to certain metals, etc. if you feel constant irritation, it might be another reason for the bleeding.
If you experience ear piercing bleeding after 1 year, you should seek immediate medical assistance. The physicians will be able to diagnose the reason for ear bleeding and recommend necessary treatment. You may have to take antibiotics, apply ointment, or other forms of medication.
Ear Piercing Bleeding After 2 Years
2 years is a long time, and at this point, your piercing should be healed to the level that it does not require as much care as when it was new. But you will have to maintain regular cleanliness. But if you experience ear piercing bleeding after 2 years, it may be because the jewelry is not suiting your skin or it’s too tight.
In both cases, you should replace the jewelry with something that does not irritate your skin. Again, if you leave out your earrings for a long time, the piercing hole can close up real quick. In that case, if you try too rough to wear your earrings, they can start bleeding right away.
In any case of bleeding, make sure to visit a doctor, correctly diagnose the cause, and take proper medication.
Ear Piercing Bleeding After 10 Years
If you had your ears pierced 10 years ago, the main reason they can bleed after so many years is changing your earrings. Sometimes when you put on a new pair of earrings, the metal might not suit your skin and cause extreme irritation. Therefore, it can start bleeding.
Again, infections can be another reason for ear piercing bleeding after 10 years. If you do not keep cleaning the piercing with the right solution, it will help bacteria grow and infect the area. If you experience inflammation and redness on your surrounding skin, it may indicate an infection.
You can treat the bleeding from a long-term piercing in many ways. The first thing you should do is clean the area with saline solution. But if the bleeding continues, you should visit a physician and take their suggested medications.
Ear Piercing Bleeding After 20 Years
Ear piercing bleeding after 20 years is rare, but it can happen. It is because of the scar tissue that develops around the piercing site. It makes your skin very fragile and prone to tearing. Even the slightest tear in the scar tissue can cause bleeding.
Your ear piercing can also start bleeding after 20 years when the surrounding area becomes inflamed because of trauma or infections. You have to clean the area properly to stop bleeding immediately. But if it continues, you must take medical assistance right away.
When Should You Seek Medical Assistance?
When you see your ear piercing is bleeding, you should clean the area with a saline solution. The bleeding should stop after cleaning the area. But if it does not, you visit and ask for assistance from professional healthcare providers. They will prescribe the proper medication after carefully examining your problem.
However, there are other symptoms besides bleeding that you should pay attention to, and see medical assistance as soon as possible if you experience them. Let’s check them out:
| Dizziness | Vomiting |
| Hearing Loss | Bleeding From Your Nose |
| Vision Problem | Lack of Consciousness |
| Fevers | Headache |
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s):
Can an Ear Piercing Get Infected After Two Years?
Yes, getting infected two years after an ear piercing is possible. This can happen if you do not regularly clean your piercing area using the right solution or use earrings that cause an allergic reaction to the place.
Can You Die From Piercing Your Ear?
No, the chances of dying from piercing your ear are very low. But it can develop an infection, irritation, and allergic reaction if not done correctly.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, bleeding can happen years after ear piercing for various reasons, as discussed here. But no matter the cause, you should take medical assistance immediately if the bleeding persists with other symptoms.