The green gunk that you can see on jewellery and other metal pieces is called verdigris. It's the natural patina that forms when copper oxidises. Verdigris also forms when it comes in contact with moisture and other forms of pollutants over time.
Ear piercing infections may be red, swollen, sore, warm, itchy or tender. Sometimes, piercings ooze blood or white, yellow or green pus. A new piercing is an open wound that can take several weeks to fully heal. During that time, any bacteria that enter the wound can lead to infection.
Mix two tablespoons of mild dishwashing liquid with one quart of warm (not hot) water. Soak your jewelry for 10 to 20 minutes to soften residue and dirt. Gently brush with a soft-bristled brush. Afterward, rinse with clean water and pat dry with a clean cloth.
In fact, ears sometimes secrete a white to yellow thin liquid while healing from a piercing, and sebum from your oil glands can also collect on your piercings. “If your discharge is light in color and not accompanied by pain, redness, warmth or swelling, it is probably not infected,” Shah said.
You might recognize the description even if you are not familiar with the term: ear cheese is the icky, brownish-gray gunk that builds up on your earring posts and backs, especially on the rubberized backs or clear plastic bit over the backing. “Ear cheese” is natural and is just a part of having pierced ears.
Dead cells mix with sebum to create an awful smell. Sebum is an oily substance created by the sebaceous glands which make the skin waterproof. When an earring hole hasn't been cleaned properly, the sebum will mix with the dead cells caused by the pierced skin to create a gross smell.
The new piercing will weep lymphatic fluid. It is a clear, yellowish discharge that would come out of any wound. THIS IS NOT A SIGN OF INFECTION AND IS NOT PUS. In actuality, it's a good sign, it shows your body is doing what it should and fighting the good fight.
A. Your earrings smell because of a build up of bacteria, dead skin cells, oils, sweat, and products. Luckily, this is easily resolved with a quick wash.
DO NOT pick the crusties off—that's just introducing your dirty hands to a healing piercing and can increase your risk of infection. The best way to clean them is to soak the piercing in warm saline solution, softening the crusties which then come off easily.
Gently wash your piercings with a mild, fragrance-free soap and water at least once a day. Thoroughly rinse your piercings after washing them.
An infected ear piercing can also develop years after a person got the original piercing. Usually, the infections are minor, and people can treat them at home without complications. Touching the piercing too often with dirty hands or not cleaning the area can lead to infections.
When you have an infected piercing, your first thought might be to take your jewelry out. While that might seem like the best thing to do, it's best to leave this to your doctor. If your piercing is actually infected, and you remove the jewelry on your own, you may spread the bacteria.
The general rule is to avoid wearing earrings while sleeping, with the exception of when you get a new piercing. You will need to keep these small studs in place for 6 weeks or so, or until the piercing heals.
Bacteria growth, sweat, and the accumulation of oils from the skin can all contribute to an unpleasant odour emanating from earrings. In addition, when moisture or sweat mixes with bacteria that are naturally present on our skin, it causes a reaction that produces an acidic smell, similar to cheese.
Yeast infection
Yeast tends to grow in warm and moist areas. As a result, people who sweat a lot or those who do not regularly clean the area behind their ears may develop a yeast infection. Yeast infections tend to itch and may produce a beer- or bread-like smell.
Handle your piercing ONLY after washing your hands, and ONLY when it is being cleaned. Be sure to follow the cleaning directions outlined in the information below. Overcleaning can slow healing and cause irritation. Overcleaning is just as bad as undercleaning.
Within the first few days/weeks a small amount of light colored fluid will discharge from the piercing. It will be milky, light yellow, or clear and dry into a darker yellow tone. This is normal and to be expected. It can be easily removed as instructed above to help keep your piercing healthy and look great.
OVERCLEANING CAN CAUSE INFECTION.
Wash Hands before touching the piercing.
Your skin secretes a natural oil called sebum which can mix with the dead cells in your piercings and cause a buildup. This buildup serves as a great environment for bacteria to thrive and hence you end up with a foul smell.
But, why does the piercing create that smell in the first place, and can we get rid of it? Firstly, 'ear cheese' is completely normal and is caused by oil and dead skin cells which have been shed and built up between the skin and the jewellery.
Crustiness, on the other hand, is the buildup of seepage that results from the body trying to heal the piercing as it would any other wound. Typically these are light or near-colorless and should reduce as the piercing, and healing process, matures.