knot behind right ear-sore.

[BerryBlue3]

I just recently gauged my ear on the left side(I went from a 16-8). And my glands swelled up on that side a little, then went down about 2 days later. Then about a week ago I gauged my right ear, and I thought the glands were just swollen on that side. But when I felt around it I felt a tiny knot right behind my earlobe under the bone, and underneath it I have another knot, but it's more like a bump and its alot bigger, but not as sore. It's just like swollen.

So, please give me answers, my parents don't know i gauged my ears, so I'm trying to avoid the doctor if so possible.

[ErinBBC]

The same thing happened to me when I pierced my cartilage, it was a swollen lymph node from a slight infection that developed in the newly pierced hole.  I would follow Doctonee's advice and keep the area very clean.  If it doesn't improve or gets worse (like the hole starts to get red, inflamed, hot to the touch, or oozes pus) see a doctor as soon as you can.  You don't want the infection to get serious because infections can spread to other areas of the body and cause lots of trouble.  Plus you don't want it to get to the point that it causes your piercing to scar which could lead to the need to re-pierce, or cause you to not be able to wear piercings in that area in the future.

If you don't have an infection you could be allergic to an additive in that particular metal.  Even if you weren't allergic to your previous piercings this metal could have different percentages of elements that make up the alloy, like perhaps it has more nickel which many people are allergic to.  I can only wear solid gold or titanium, sometimes surgical steel.

Your parents might be upset that you didn't tell them about gauging the ear, but they'd be more upset if you ended up getting really sick because of it.  Or maybe you'll get lucky and it will be one of those times when you think your parents are going to freak out but they don't :)

Keep us posted!
E

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
The knots behind the ear seen after gauging the ear pinna can be due to swollen lymph node in response to infection or could be infected skin. It is more likely to be a swollen lymph node. Keep the area clean. Apply local antiseptic and antibacterial creams on the piercings. The swellings will go down in a few days after infection subsides. If you are mildly allergic to the material in the pierced ear, then also the swelling can persist. Please consult a doctor. Take care!