Im having trouble getting my ears to heal. I recently stretched a week ago from 5/8 to 11/16. About 3 days later they started getting red, warm to the touch, flaky and scaly, and my lobes and surrounding tissue began to get hard. I bought and started using some over-the-counter-antibacterial cream and also some Satin antimicrobial skin cleaner from bodyartforms and they still havent seen much or any improvement? I've never really this happen before so I was wondering if there were other healing methods I should use or try and what other products I should use. Any help would or reccomendations would greatly be appreciated.

 how long were you at 5/8"?  what type of jewelry are you wearing?  what method did you use to stretch?  Are you ill at the moment or getting ill?

I was at 5/8 for about a month. Right now, I only have some Oppalite double flares and I used just an 3/4in taper to stretch. Im not ill, but i did have the gastric lap band procedure done so my immune system is sometimes not 100%. Ive noticed that its kind of turned into a rash, started to spread a bit, and started to sting a bit in the last 8 hours. As of now, im thinking they are infected...........

I have had my ears at 2g for about 4 months, and they had no issues at all until about 2 weeks ago when they just started doing exactly what you described. I bought some vitamin E oil, and honestly I didn't expect it to do much for my problem, but it totally blew me away! I cleaned my ears out with sss and put that oil on there, massaged it pretty good and put my plugs back in. Immediately they felt better, and in the morning i went to repeat the process and they looked completely healed. And the felt amazing! I have used it every day since and my ears could not be in better condition. I really am amazed by this stuff! I used to have a little bit of what I suppose was scar tissue there, which I could feel when I squeezed my earlobes, and now they are perfeclt soft and no redness, no crusties, no itchies. Perfect!

One month is not a long enough time to wait for such a stretch. Generally, the larger you go, the longer you need to wait. Your ears probably weren't ready. (BAF's How do I stretch my piercing?)

DF also isn't very appropriate for a new stretch. The flares are larger than the gauge (obviously), which means you've stretched beyond 11/16" to get them in.

Have you been doing massages with some type of oil? I'd really recommend that, in addition to probably seeing a physician.

soulfly945:

I was at 5/8 for about a month. Right now, I only have some Oppalite double flares and I used just an 3/4in taper to stretch. Im not ill, but i did have the gastric lap band procedure done so my immune system is sometimes not 100%. Ive noticed that its kind of turned into a rash, started to spread a bit, and started to sting a bit in the last 8 hours. As of now, im thinking they are infected...........

You really need to get to a doctor.  What you are discribing is not normal or healthy sounding.  You stretched too quickly and in a really poor manner.  if you stretch to 11/16" you don't use a 3/4" taper.  Nor do you stretch with double flared jewelry.  Seriously, I would downsize, do salt soaks, make sure you drink plenty of water and take your vitamins (including extra C and zinc).  And see a doctor.

sikswifey your situation is nothing like the OPs.