Dr Phil Kieran: My 12-year-old's ear piercings are swollen and sore  

"Look after any new piercing and disinfect the area regularly, usually two to three times per day, depending on the site."

Dr. Phil Kieran. Picture: Dan Linehan

My 12-year-old daughter got her ears pierced a month ago. Unfortunately, both earlobes are swollen and sore. We’ve tried antiseptic wipes. Is there anything else we could do?

GPs will see these problems more often as piercings become more common. This isn’t particularly surprising: poking a hole in the skin runs the risk of complications. Thankfully, with good hygiene practices in almost all of the establishments that offer piercings, the majority of people who get them don’t have any problems.