Having major problems with old lobe piercings

I have 3 piercings in each lobe.  Bottom one is 16 years old, middle one is 4 years old, and top is 3 years old.  I got the piercings at reputable piercing shops, and was told that the earrings were surgical steel.  I washed the piercings with sterile saline for 3 months after getting each piercing, as I was directed (I think that's what I was told, it's been a while).  I changed the earring in the bottom piercing 4 years ago, but besides that I never took the earrings out until 3 days ago, when I had to get a CT scan for an unrelated thing.  I ended up leaving the earrings out for 2 days before I tried to put them back in.  

On the left ear, the top two piercings seem to have a film of skin grown over each hole.  I pushed the earrings through anyway which was quite painful.  On the bottom piercing, there was no film of skin but a large blob of pus came out when I pushed the earring through.   

On the right ear, when I tried to put one of the earrings in blood immediately started pouring out of the hole.  At that point I took all the earrings out since if they haven't healed properly after 16, 4, and 3 years I assume leaving the earrings in a few more years won't help anything. 

Have you ever seen anything like this before?  Also, should I ask a piercer about this or should I ask a regular doctor?  I'm very frustrated because I really liked those earrings.

Posted Feb 15, 2026, 8:36 PM UTC

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