Mixing your own saline is a bad idea too as its really easy to add too much salt which can burn the wound.

Did you change it yourself or did your piercer do it?

Thats not so bad. I assume the jewellery is externally threaded? The rough edges of the threads going through an open & infected wound can cause further irritation, but since its done, its done. The best you can really do is to keep on top of cleaning it and not be afraid to go talk to your piercer if you get concerned. My industrial took around six months before is stopped oozing, and about another six to completely heal to the point that I could no longer feel it throbbing or burning occasionally. Absolutely my favourite piercing I have though.

I seriously dont think she has an infection, just a bit of weeping and hypertrophic scarring that was forming which should now go down seeing as the pressure is hopefully being relieved.

The piercer also suggested she might want to try tea tree oil on it, but he did advise that this might irritate it yet some find it effective. Have you got any experience of this Goblin?

I used tea tree oil on my first nipple piercing and it was fine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil#Medicinal_use is worth a read. Basically, keeping it clean is the key (as with any other wound). Piercings, naturally, take longer to heal than an ordinary would since there is a foreign body present that your immune system will do its best to get rid of. The only way a piercing will take is if it is easier for the body to heal round it than push it out. With cartilage it is basically impossible to reject, but its also a difficult place to heal.

Everything else sounds like the piercer was competent and applied appropriate sterilisation techniques, so its really just a case of getting on with it and not to let up on the cleaning routine and doing what you can to avoid introducing foreign material while it heals. Keeping the hair back is good, partly as its a natural harbour for airborne bacteria and things like soot particles and partly  because every time you catch it it will cause more trauma to the wound and increase the healing time.

And dont pick the scabs

I used tea tree oil on my first nipple piercing and it was fine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil#Medicinal_use is worth a read.

I use that stuff, saved me from a very nasty infection when my toes began to go black. Also useful for spots. OTOH its a bit strong, should be OK on the earlobe but not right inside the ear.

Another option thats coming back into use is honey, (or sugar paste) the high level of sucrose sucks the liquid out of any bacteria killing them. Use goes back to the Egyptians who put it on battle wounds and in operations.

Beans, rather shaving your hair go get some tea tree oil and add a few drops to your shampoo when you do your hair. Also tie it back if its really long temporarily using a hairnet or one of the food use covers might also be useful.